THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE    MAGNET    STORIES. 


DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 


BY 

LYNDE  PALMER. 


AUTHOR  OP 

"JOHN- JACK;"  "ONE  DAY'S  WEAVING;" 
SHADOW,"  ETC. 


TROY,  K  Y. 
H.  B.  XIMS  &  CO. 

1874. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1867,  by 
MOORE  t  NIMS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  th* 
Northern  District  of  New  York. 


B  P.NTHtTTSKN    &.    SOWS, 

Printers,  Stereotypers  and  Binders, 

407  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  T. 


T>Z7 


PREFACE. 


THE  aim  of  the  present  volume  is  to  present  clearly 
and  forcibly  the  contrast  between  two  lives,  —  the  one, 
governed  by  principles  of  the  strictest  honor,  —  the 
other,  vacillating  with  impulses  of  selfishness  and  dis- 
honesty. 

The  story  is  not  intended  for  the  most  youthful  read- 
ers ;  but  for  those,  who,  standing  on  the  border-land  of 
childhood,  excited  and  bewildered  by  the  broader  vistas 
opening  before  them,  are  daily  deciding  the  grave  and 
important  questions  which  are  to  stamp  their  future  life. 
If  to  such,  this  little  volume  may  be  a  help  in  discerning 
more  clearly  between  right  and  wrong, — may  be,  as  it 
were,  a  magnet,  drawing  them,  even  faintly,  towards 
what  is  noble,  courageous,  and  true,  —  the  hopes  of  the 
author  will  be  fully  realized. 

It  is  designed  to  follow  this  volume  with  others  of 

similar  aim,  adapted  to  the  same  class  of  readers  ;  the 
(iii) 


IV  PREFACE. 

series  to  be  known   under  the  name   of  the   Magnet 
Stories. 

Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are 
honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just,  pure,  lovely,  and  of 
good  report;  let  us  think  on  these  things. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

AFLOAT 


CHAPTER  II. 
SHOALS 30 

CHAPTER  III. 
AGROUND .. 45 

CHAPTER  IV. 
DOUBLING  A  POINT 69 

CHAPTER  V. 
LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY 84 

CHAPTER  VI. 
THE  RACE 104 

CHAPTER  VII. 
FALSE  COLORS 142 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
HIGH  TIDE 155 

CHAPTER  IX. 

AN  ILL  WIND 182 

(v) 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X.  Page. 

STRAITS 197 

CHAPTER  XL 
A  HEATY  SEA 207 

CHAPTER  XII. 

HE  THAT   SAVETH  HIS  LlFE 238 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
SLACKENED  SAILS 251 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
WALTER'S  LOG-BOOK 272 

CHAPTER  XV. 
TURNING  HOMEWARD 285 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

"HONOR  TO  WHOM  HONOR"..  ,    294 


THE  MAGNET  STORIES. 


BY  LYNDE  PALMER. 


1.  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

2.  ONE  DAY'S  WEAVING. 

3.  ARCHIE'S  SHADOW. 

4.  JOHN-JACK. 

(Yii) 


DRIFTING  AND  STEERING, 


CHAPTER  L 

AFLOAT. 

JHE  short  winter  day  was  nearly  past, 
and  night,  bleak  and  stormy,  was  fast 
settling  down.  But  still  the  train 
rushed  on,  and  still  two  young  faces,  pale  and 
sad,  pressed  against  the  small  car  window, 
gazing  wearily  as  the  blank,  gray  fields,  the  sol- 
emn stretches  of  pine  woods,  and  the  weather- 
stained  farm-houses  desolately  drifted  by. 

It  seemed  such  a  sad,  cold  world  to  the  two 
young  hearts  that  night;  all  warmth  and  color 
gone.  They  should  never  be  happy  again !  at 

least,  so  thought  Walter  Houghton,  the  slighter 
(9) 


10  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

of  the  two,  as  lie  shivered,  and  drew  a  long  sigh. 
Owen  Grey,  his  companion,  started  anxiously  from 
his  revery. 

"  You  are  cold,  Walter ;  why  didn't  you  tell 
me  ?  Here,  put  your  feet  on  the  seat,  and  let  me 
wrap  my  shawl  around  them." 

"  But  what  will  you  do  then  ?  " 

"Oh,  never  mind  me,  I'm  strong,  I  shan't 
miss  it!"  cried  Owen,  cheerfully,  muffing  up  his 
companion  as  carefully  as  a  mother  would  her 
baby. 

"  But  how  it  will  look ! "  said  Walter,  uneasily. 
"  Everybody  will  think  I'm  so  selfish." 

"Everybody  is  just  now  thinking  of  himself, 
as  he  usually  is,"  laughed  Owen.  "I've  noticed 
all  day  that  he  didn't  seem  to  have  any  proper 
idea  of  our  importance.  Probably  not  half  in  the 
car  suspect  that  we  are  princes  in  disguise !  " 

"  Don't  be  so  silly,  Owen ! "  cried  Walter, 
twisting  his  neck  till  he  had  taken  in  all  the 
heavy-eyed,  nodding  public.  The  survey  was 
satisfactory.  He  concluded  to  make  no  further 


AFLOAT.  11 

demur,  and  adding  —  "You  take  such  a  pleas- 
ure in  self-sacrifice,  Owen,  it  would  be  a  pity 
to  refuse  you,"  he  settled  himself  comfortably; 
while  Owen  pulled  up  his  collar,  and  tried  to  per- 
suade himself  that  he  didn't  miss  the  heavy  wool- 
len folds. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  cried  Walter,  starting,  as  the 
car  suddenly  became  dark,  and  something  white 
and  spectral  flashed  past  the  window. 

"  We  are  in  a  tunnel,  I  should  think,"  said  Owen, 
calmly, "  and  the  water  dripping  through  the  rocks 
has  made  icicles.  See,  there's  another!  Don't 
they  look  like  long  white  fingers ! " 

"Angel  fingers!"  said  Walter,  in  an  excited 
whisper,  believing  he  had  stumbled  upon  a  very 
poetical  idea. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  cried  cheery,  sensible  Owen. 
"Don't  you  see  they're  all  pointing  down,  and 
angel  fingers  ought  to  point  up !  " 

"  Pshaw !  How  you  always  spoil  everything. 
You  haven't  any  more  sentiment  in  you  than  a 
buzz-saw ! " 


12  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Owen  only  laughed  at  his  companion's  ill  humor, 
and  another  five  minutes  passed  by. 

"  When  shall  we  ever  get  there ! "  broke  out 
Walter  again,  "  though  I'm  sure  I  don't  know 
that  I  care  either.  A  great  strange  city  full  of 
strangers  —  I'd  just  as  lief,  for  my  part,  keep  rush- 
ing on  through  this  dark  winter  night  for- 
ever ! " 

" '  Never  say  die,'  Walty ! "  cried  Owen, 
cheerily,  "who  knows  what  is  before  us  in  the 
great  strange  city!  You  know  we  have  some- 
thing to  do.  You  know" — his  voice  faltered 
a  little,  "  she  said  the  one  who  loved  her  best, 
would  try  the  hardest  to  be  a  great  and  honorable 
man." 

"The  one  who  loved  her  best!"  cried 
Walter,  excitedly,  "  as  if  that  had  to  be  proved ! 
Do  you  think  any  one  who  saw  us  this  minute, 
could  doubt  which  was  dear  mamma's  own  son  ? 
Do  /  make  jokes,  and  talk  about  being  cheerful  ? 
No,  I  couldn't  forget  her  so  soon ;  a  nephew  is 
very  different  from  a  son ;  and,  besides,  you  never 


AFLOAT.  13 

had  very  murfh  feeling."  Saying  which,  Walter 
gave  Owen's  shawl  another  wind  around  his  feet, 
and  drawing  out  his  white  handkerchief,  dived 
into  it,  disconsolately. 

Owen's  face  glowed  as  if  he  had  suddenly  bent 
over  the  open  door  of  a  furnace. 

"That's  mean,  and  ungenerous,  Walter!" 
said  the  hoy,  vehemently.  "You  know  very 
well  that  I  had  no  other  mother  than  yours, 
since  I  was  a  little  unconscious  baby.  And  she 
—  she  knew  whether  I  loved  her.  She  never 
doubted  me ! "  said  he,  with  a  burst  of  feeling, 
"and  I  mean  that  my  whole  life  shall  prove 
whether  I  am  unworthy  of  the  trust  she  had  in 
me." 

"There  was  a  minute's  pause,  and  then  Owen 
resumed  more  calmly,  — 

"  But  I  am  not  angry  with  you,  Walter,  I  won't 
be,  no  matter  what  reason  you  give  me." 

The  boy  was  a  little  too  magnificent,  perhaps, 
and  Walter  resented  it. 

"  Very  grand ! "  he  cried,  "  only,  unfortunately, 


14  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

your    face  is  more  honest    than  your    tongue. 
You're  in  a  towering  passion,  you  know." 

Owen  walked  hastily  away  to  the  other  end  of 
the  car.  "Walter  is  right,"  he  confessed  to 
himself,  when  he  became  a  little  cooler.  "  I  am 
angry,  I  didn't  mean  to  be,  but  it  conies  on  me 
so  suddenly,  like  a  great  wave.  I've  been  very 
angry  again,  and  with  Walter,  too.  Oh,  why 
can't  I  remember!"  and  resolutely  he  brought 
before  himself  a  sad,  sad  picture,  on  which  the 
dust  of  only  a  score  of  days  had  fallen.  It  was 
not  much  to  brush  aside,  and  again  Owen  was 
standing  in  a  darkened  room  by  the  side  of  that 
dear  invalid  he  had  always  called  "  mother," 
and  whom  he  must  still  call  so,  in  his  heart, 
even  if  Walter's  jealously  denied  him  the  right. 
That  dear  mother!  she  had  seemed  to  know  no 
difference  between  them.  How  anxious  she  had 
been  for  them  both.  "  Poor  babies,"  she  had  said, 
"  who  must  learn  so  early  to  be  men.  May  God 
protect  you ! "  But  next  to  heaven,  it  was  in 
Owen's  eyes  she  looked  for  comfort 


AFLOAT.  15 

"  You  are  a  child  in  years,  Owen,"  she  had 
said,  "even  a  month  younger  than  Walter,  but 
you  are  so  much  larger  and  stronger,  it  often 
seems  as  if  you  were  twice  his  age.  How  this 
poor  boy,"  she  laid  her  hand  on  Walter's  head, 
"will  struggle  with  the  world,  I  cannot  tell! 
He  is  so  sensitive,  so  easily  discouraged,  and  not 
at  all  strong.  Promise  me,  Owen,  that  you  will 
watch  over  him;  you  will  love  him  as  if  he  were 
your  own  brother,  and  will  have  patience  with 
him  even  if  he  tries  you  very  much;  you  will 
even  sometimes  sacrifice  a  little  of  your  own 
pleasure  for  his  happiness,  remembering  the  great 
love  he  has  lost!  Can  you  promise  me  that, 
Owen,  my  dear  son  9  " 

Owen  seized  the  slender  hands  that  had  done  so 
many  kindnesses  for  him,  and  promised  with 
streaming  eyes. 

What  a  look  of  love  and  confidence  she  gave 
him!  Even  in  his  grief  Owen  had  felt  a  thrill 
of  delight.  She  trusted  him  —  a  boy  of  only  four- 
teen years !  why,  such  a  look  from  dying  eyes  would 


16  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

be  precious  to  a  grown  man ;  and  in  his  swelling, 
boy's  heart,  he  vowed  to  keep  his  promise  with  a 
man's  strength. 

All  this  he  now  remembered  with  self-condem- 
nation. His  anger  vanished.  How  could  he 
have  been  so  foolish,  so  thin-skinned!  Could 
he  never  get  used  to  Walter's  quick  tongue  ? 
He  would  go  back  now,  and  try  to  cheer  him 
up,  though  he  scarcely  knew  what  to  say.  His 
heart  was  almost  as  heavy  as  "Walter's,  at 
thought  of  the  new,  strange  life.  Still,  there 
were  some  pleasant  things  to  think  of.  How 
many  boys  would  be  beside  themselves  with  joy 
at  prospect  of  such  great  advantages  as  they  were 
to  have  in  the  city ;  and  then,  they  were  to  go 
together;  they  need  not  be  separated;  for 
Owen's  guardian,  who  had  carefully  nursed  his 
scanty  funds,  had  announced  that  there  was 
enough  to  pay  for  a  course  of  study,  and  supply 
the  boy's  simple  wants,  till  he  was  fitted  to 
struggle  for  himself.  In  Walter's  case,  there 
had  been  no  need  of  such  careful  calculation,  for 


AFLOAT.  17 

?u's  fortune,  in  an  uncle's  hands,  was  amply 
sufficient  to  supply  every  reasonable  want 
"  So  we  shall  have  a  splendid  education ! " 
thought  Owen  to  himself,  "and  then  it  is  very 
pleasant  to  think  we  are  to  board  with  kind  Mrs. 
"Whately,  mother's  old  school-friend,  —  she  will 
not  seem  like  a  stranger  —  I  must  talk  to  Walty 
about  that." 

He  started,  and  again  stopped.  It  came  so 
vividly  before  him  —  that  last  day,  when  that 
dear  mother  had  told  them  so  tenderly  of  these 
arrangements  she  had  labored  till  the  last  minute 
to  make.  How  yearningly  she  had  looked  upon 
them;  poor  children  so  mysteriously  left  alone, 
without  father  or  mother;  and  how  she  had  made 
them  repeat  again  and  again  — 

"  When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me, 
then  the  Lord  will  take  me  up." 

Then  she  had  seemed  to  grow  calmer,  and  tried 
to  talk  about  their  future,  and  how  they  must  lead 
useful,  and  honorable  lives. 

But  Walter  had  interrupted  her  passionately. 
2 


18  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"I  don't  care  what  I  do!  I  don't  care  what 
becomes  of  me!  I  want  to  die  and  go  with 
you." 

"Not  yet,  0,  no,  not  yet!  Walty,  my  dear 
son,  she  had  cried.  "  Life  is  such  a  grand  gift, 
do  not  despise  it!  Eejoice  that  it  is  still  per- 
mitted you  to  be  about  your  Father's  business ; 
that  there  is  such  noble  work  for  you  to  do,  if 
you  will,  to  the  glory  of  His  holy  name!  It 
will  only  be  a  very  little  while,  and  your  sum- 
mons too  will  come.  Then,  if  this  work  is  done, 

—  if  the  sum  of  sin  and  suffering  is  less  for  your 
having  lived,  —  how  sweet  it  will  be  for  you  to  go, 

—  carrying  with  you  the  blessings  of  earth,  —  to 
meet  the  blessing  of  heaven !    '  Come,  ye  blessed!' 
That  will  be  your  name  —  so  your  dear  Lord  will 
call  you  — '  Come,  ye  blessed ! '  * 

She  paused  a  minute,  panting,  but  they  could 
not  speak  for  weeping.  She  looked  at  them, 
pityingly,  and  smiled  as  only  a  mother  can 
smile. 

"Listen,"  said  she,  "I   shall  give  you   some-- 


AFLOAT.  19 

thing  to  do  for  me !  The  one  who  loves  me  best 
will  make  his  life  fullest  of  noble  deeds !  Which 
shall  it  be?" 

Still  the  sobbiug  children  could  not  answer, 
though  the  heart  of  one  was  burning  within 
him.  ...... 

Owen  was  so  wrapt  in  his  thoughts,  he  had  for- 
gotten where  he  was,  when  a  hand  was  laid  impa- 
tiently on  his  shoulder. 

"  Well,  I  didn't  suppose  you  were  going  to 
make  such  a  noodle  of  yourself,  for  a  few  hasty 
words ! " 

Owen  stared  at  Walter  vacantly,  quite  uncon- 
scious that  the  tears  were  streaming  down  his 
cheeks. 

"  Come  now,  can't  you  make  it  up,  or  must  I 
go  down  on  my  knees,  and  ask  pardon  ?" 

"For  what?"  cried  Owen,  with  his  bright  win- 
ning smile. 

"  0,  for  nothing,  if  you  can't  remember,"  said 
Walter,  greatly  piqued.  "I  don't  suppose  any- 
thing I  say  is  of  any  consequence.  But  you  had 


20  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

better  wipe  your  eyes,  before  you  pretend  to  quite 
so  much  indifference!" 

A  light  broke  upon  Owen.  "  Why,  Walter,  you 
caii't  think  I'm  crying  like  a  baby,  because  I've 
been  pelted  with  a  few  hard  words  ! " 

"  0,  of  course  not ! "  said  Walter,  greatly 
injured,  "it  must  be  the  smoke  from  the 
engine ! " 

"To  be  sure!"  said  Owen,  with  his  pleasant 
laugh.  "What  a  clear  head  you  have,  Walty! 
Come  let's  forget  all  this  nonsense.  You  and  I 
are  afloat  together,  you  know,  and  now  we  are  fast 
coming  to  the  open  sea !  We  must  help  each  other 
all  we  can,  for  we  don't  know  what  rocks  there 
will  be  in  the  strange  waters." 

"Rocks!"  cried  Walter,  brightening,  "I 
hope  there  will  be  a  few,  anything  but  sailing 
on  a  duck-pond!  A  little  danger  now  and  then 
will  make  it  so  much  more  exciting  and  delight- 
ful!" 

"If  you're  only  sure  to  steer  clear,"  said 
Owen,  looking  admiringly  at  Walter's  glowing 


AFLOAT.  21 

cheeks,  and  dark  eyes  full  of  fire ;  "  but  I'm  not 
so  confident  of  my  skill !  I'm  afraid  I  shall  grate 
on  the  shoals  a  good  many  times,  and  maybe  spring 
a  leak,  before  I'm  fairly  under  way." 

Walter  laughed,  with  a  little  air  of  superiority. 
"  I'm  glad  I'm  not  quite  so  timid  as  you ;  and  I 
don't  mean  to  wear  myself  oat  with  steering 
either.  The  fact  is,  — you  won't  be  angry,  Owen, 
—  but  I  think  you  are  just  born  to  sail  in  a 
wash-tub,  and,  even  then,  be  a  little  anxious 
about  the  soap-suds!  You  don't  seem  to  have 
any  ambition,  or  noble  enthusiasm,  or  vim,  or" — 

"  0,  don't  cut  one  off  without  a  single  vir- 
tue!" cried  Owen,  with  unfailing  good  humor, 
"you  must  teach  me  to  be  brave;  for  though 
the  wash-tub  would  be  so  much  more  appro- 
priate for  me,  you  see  I  am  forced  into  the 
breakers!  Look!"  cried  he,  as  the  train  flew 
aronnd  a  sudden  turn  in  the  road,  "  there  is  the 
phosphorescence  on  the  waves  now,  I  suppose," 
and  he  pointed  to  the  myriad  twinkling  lights  of 
the  city,  just  sweeping  into  view. 


22  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Walter  was  greatly  excited.  "And  that's  to 
be  oar  home  now,  Owen,"  he  cried,  clapping 
him  on  the  back.  "  A  little  different  from  old 
Greenfield,  eh  ?  " 

"  Very  different,"  said  Owen  more  thought- 
fully. 

"Come,  old  fellow!  no  more  pining  for  the 
wash-tub.  We're  fairly  afloat  now.  Hurrah  for 
the  open  sea ! "  cried  impulsive  Walter,  who  half 
an  hour  before  had  been  in  the  depths  of  despon- 
dency at  this  same  prospect. 

Owen  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  remind 
him  of  it.  "  Putting  yourself  through  a  course 
of  head  gymnastics  again,  Walty  ?  Well,  I  hope 
it  makes  your  mind  more  vigorous,  but  I'm  never 
surprised  to  see  an  opinion  of  yours  standing  on 
its  head." 

The  rushing  of  the  train  into  the  depot,  gave 
Walter  a  very  good  excuse  for  not  noticing  this 
over  true  speech,  and  soon  the  two  tired  boys  were 
only  thinking  how  they  should  get  clear  of  the 
crowd  of  porters,  drivers,  and  newsboys. 


AFLOAT.  23 

"  Halloo,  there ! "  cried  a  welcome  voice,  as 
they  were  on  the  point  of  utter  bewilderment, 
and  Walter's  Uncle  Knowlson,  who  had  gone 
down  a  few  days  before  to  complete  arrangements 
for  their  reception,  —  came  to  the  rescue,  laugh- 
ing heartily ;  and  hurrying  them  into  a  carriage, 
the  two  boys  were  soon  rapidly  driving  over  the 
paved  streets  to  Mrs.  Whately's. 

"  Yon  will  have  a  very  pleasant  home,  buys," 
said  Uncle  Kuowlson,  "  and  an  excellent  chance 
to  make  yourselves  useful.  Mr.  Whately,  you 
know,  is  in  the  navy,  and,  not  long  since,  sailed 
on  a  three  years  cruise.  I  hope  yoit  will  do  every- 
thing you  can  to  relieve  Mrs.  Whately  of  her 
cares,  and  never  give  her  any  reason  to  repent  of 
her  generosity. " 

Walter  drew  himself  up  proudly. 

You  forget,  uncle,  that  we  are  gentlemen  !  " 

"  Really,  said  Uncle  Knowlson,  dryly,  "  I  ought 
to  have  remembered  such  an  important  fact, 
though  I'm  not  quite  sure  but  this  is  the  first  time 
it  was  ever  presented  to  me." 


24  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Owen's  ringing  laugh  sounded  clear  above  the 
rattling  wheels,  but  Walter  sat  stifly  in  offended 
dignity. 

"My  boy,"  said  Uncle  Knowlson,  more 
kindly,  "I  did  not  mean  to  hurt  your  feelings; 
but  do  not  be  satisfied  with  a  mere  pleasing  ex- 
terior, and  graceful  manners.  True  gentleman- 
liness  begins  in  the  heart ;  —  that  must  be  brave, 
and  honest,  and  full  of  love,  and  the  rest  will  fol- 
low. Do  not  be  contented  with  anything  but  the 
highest  type ;  be  a  Christian  gentleman." 

The  carriage  came  to  an  abrupt  stop.  They 
were  at  their  new  home,  and  "Walter  and  Owen 
descended  with  beating  hearts.  The  door  hos- 
pitably flew  open  the  minute  they  had  reached 
it,  and  the  two  boys  were  conscious  of  a  delight- 
ful sense  of  warmth  and  comfort,  as  they  passed 
from  the  storm  and  sleet  into  the  pleasant  car- 
peted hall,  and  caught  a  glimpse  through  an 
open  door  of  pictures  and  curtains  reflecting  the 
red  glow  of  an  open  grate  fire,  while  over  a 
large  table, —  covered  with  books  and  mag- 


AFLOAT.  25 

azines,  —  a  soft  shaded  drop-light  hung  like  a 
floating  mood.  How  sweet  and  home-like  it 
looked!  And  when  a  pleasant-faced,  motherly 
woman  came  forward,  with  an  exclamation  of 
pleasure,  and  actually  gave  each  of  them  a  kiss, 
Owen  was  completely  overcome,  and  could 
hardly  command  his  voice  to  answer  her  kindly 
questions. 

Walter,  on  the  contrary,  was  in  his  element 
Always  anxious  for  admiration,  he  now  thought 
only  of  the  impression  he  was  about  to  make ;  and 
graceful,  and  self-possessed,  his  well-bred  manners 
won  golden  opinions  from  all. 

"This  is  my  daughter,  Honor,"  said  Mrs. 
Whately,  bringing  forward  a  sweet-faced  young 
girl  about  their  own  age.  "  And  this  is  her 
cousin,  Miss  Phernie  Carroll,"  said  she  laughing, 
and  trying  to  introduce  a  restless  figure  in  the 
back-ground,  who,  —  bobbing  here  and  there  with 
a  bright  scarlet  ribbon  in  her  hair,  —  looked  like  a 
will  o'  the  wisp. 

Walter  was  greatly  pleased  with  himself.    He 


26  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

considered  his  bow  quite  unexceptionable,  for  he 
had  practised  it  before  the  mirror,  and  his  cheek 
glowed  as  he  caught  the  shy  admiration  and 
wonder  of  Honor,  and  cousin  Phemie.  It  was 
very  gratifying  to  think  that  everybody  must 
see  his  vast  superiority  to  Owen,  who  had  grown 
too  fast,  and  could  not  help  being  awkward. 
Nevertheless  it  was  annoying  when  Uucle 
Knowlson  bade  them  good-night,  to  have  him 
whisper  — 

"Very  gracefully  done,  my  boy,  but  keep  a 
watch  on  that  heart ! " 

The  boys  were  exceedingly  tired,  and  after  a 
nice  supper,  kind  Mr,s.  TVhately  ordered  them  to 
bed. 

"You  will  find  my  government  an  absolute 
monarchy,"  she  said  smiling.  "I  expect  every 
one  to  mind  me  unconditionally!"  and  Walter, 
the  courtier,  —  with  another  of  his  profound 
bows,  —  was  fluent  in  assuring  her  that  "there 
could  be  no  happiness  comparable  to  that  of  being 
her  humblest  slave !" 


AFLOAT.  27 

Mrs.  Whately  seemed  much  amused,  aud  cer- 
tainly not  displeased,  while  poor  speechless  Owen 
bowed  himself  out,  with  a  slight  cloud  upon  his 
honest  face. 

The  boys  were  to  share  the  same  room,  but  it 
was  spacious  and  airy,  and  each  had  his  own  bed 
and  separate  chest  of  drawers. 

"I  say,  Owen,  aren't  we  lucky  dogs?"  cried 
Walter,  in  the  highest  spirits.  "I  hadn't  the 
least  idea  everything  would  be  so  pleasant  I  I 
feel  entirely  at  home  already,  don't  you  ?  Why 
don't  you  speak,  old  fellow?  Jealous  because 
you  think  I  made  the  best  impression,  I'll  bet  a 
dollar!" 

"  Not  very,"  said  Owen,  smiling  quietly  to  him- 
self. 

"What  pleases  you  so  much?"  cried  Walter, 
testily.  "You  were  glum  enough  down  stairs, 
but  as  soon  as  we  get  alone,  you  always  put  on 
your  grand,  mysterious  airs,  and  actually  try  to 
patronize  me,  I  sometimes  think.  Now  there 
can't  be  much  doubt  that  I  am  your  equel,  at 


28  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

least,  and  I  think  the  people  down  stairs  would 
perhaps  claim  a  little  more,  if  their  opinion  was 
asked." 

"Not  a  doubt  of  it,"  said  Owen,  good 
humoredly.  "  I  was  awkward  and  embarrassed, 
I  confess ;  and  you  must  have  appeared  like  Sir 
Philip  Sidney  beside  me,  —  will  that  do  ?  I  am 
not  good  at  making  speeches,  but  I  mean  to  make 
every  day  speak  for  me,  and  tell  Mrs.  Whately  I 
am  as  true  a  subject  as  you." 

In  the  meantime,  an  equally  lively  discussion 
was  going  on  in  Honor's  room. 

"  Isn't  he  splendid,  Honor !  "  cried  Phemie  ; 
"such  great  dark  eyes,  and  curly  hair,  and  then 
what  manners !  Why  he  bows,  I  should  think, 
as  much  again  lower  than  Mr.  Trippe,  the  danc- 
ing-master ! " 

"  I  don't  believe  he'd  thank  you  for  the  com- 
parison," said  Honor,  with  a  merry  laugh. 

"No  matter,"  said  Phemie.  "I  shall  love 
Walter,  I'm  sure,  but  as  for  that  other  awkward 
boy"— 


AFLOAT.  29 

"He  wasn't  so  bad!"  interrupted  Honor. 
"  Didn'  you  see  what  great  blue  eyes  he  had,  and 
what  a  white  forehead !  and,  when  he  smiled,  I 
liked  him  almost  as  well  as  Walter." 

"  How  could  you !  "  cried  Phemie,  holding  up 
both  hands. 

"Well,  of  course,  not  quite,"  returned 
Honor ;  "  Walter  is  very  different  from  any  one 
I  ever  saw  before.  He  must  be  a  very  superior 
boy." 

"  0,  very  superior !  "  said  wise  Phemie. 

"But  we  must  be  just  as  polite  and  kind  to  one 
as  to  the  other,"  said  Honor,  in  whom  the  princi- 
ple of  strict  justice  was  largely  developed.  "I 
suppose  Owen  cannot  help  being  so  different  from 
his  cousin." 

"  No,"  assented  Phemie,  with  a  sigh  of  pro- 
found pity ;  and  she  changed  the  subject  for  one 
of  still  deeper  importance  and  interest, —  whether 
she  should  fill  up  her  pincushion  with  scarlet  or 
blue! 


CHAPTER  II. 

SHOALS. 

WEN  was  up  with  the  dawn  the  next 
morning,  taking  observations  from 
every  window  in  the  room.  They  were 
in  a  very  pleasant  part  of  the  city,  where 
there  was  even  room  for  a  nice  little  court  before 
the  street  door.  It  was  covered  now  with  the 
purest  snow  that  had  fallen  in  the  night,  and 
two  sturdy,  cheerful  evergreens  stood  sentry 
each  side  of  the  gate.  To  add  to  the  bright 
scene,  a  curious  litle  figure  in  scarlet  comforter, 
fur  cap  and  leggings,  was  marching  up  and 
down  the  short  path,  with  an  air  of  military 
dignity,  a  stick,  taller  than  himself,  balanced 
across  his  shoulder  for  a  gun,  and  a  lively  little 

terrier  following  close  at  his  heels.    As   Owen 
(30) 


SHOALS.  31 

stood  watching,  again  and  again  the  stout  little 
legs  turned  traitors,  and,  suddenly  deserting, 
left  their  sovereign  rolling  in  the  snow;  but  the 
nice,  rosy  face  always  came  up  as  shining  and 
good-natured  as  ever.  "Bravo!"  cried  Owen, 
at  the  ninth  upset,  borne  with  unshaken  phi- 
losophy, "  that  will  be  a  boy  after  my  own 
heart." 

"Pshaw!"  cried  Walter,  coming  up  behind 
him,  "  I  hope  you  don't  mean  that  wretch  in  the 
red  comforter  ?  small  boys  are  such  a  bore,  a  per- 
fect thorn  in  the  flesh.  I  hope  that  one  isn't  in- 
digenous to  the  soil ! " 

Nevertheless  when  they  all  met  at  the  breakfast 
table,  what  could  be  more  frank  and  engaging  than 
"Walter's  manner,  when  Bob,  alias  "  Little  Picket," 
was  formally  introduced. 

What  an  interest  he  took  in  the  child,  and 
how  amusing  he  found  it,  when  Honor  explained 
to  him  that  her  little  brother,  who  had  heard 
stories  about  the  war,  thought  it  was  the  grand- 
est, bravest  thing  in  the  world  to  be  a  picket, 


32  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

and  how  he  was  always  mounting  guard  some- 
where, and  marching  up  and  down  in  front  of 
the  house,  till  he  had  earned  his  name,  which  he 
thought  the  greatest  honor. 

"Dear,  ahsurd  little  fellow,"  she  said,  "he  has 
stood  an  hour  at  the  front  gate  without  moving, 
*  on  duty/  he  says,  and  he  would  do  it  every  day, 
if  mamma  hadn't  forbidden  him." 

So  Walter,  with  his  brightest  smile,  held  out 
his  hand,  telling  the  delighted  child,  "he  con- 
sidered it  a  greater  honor  to  shake  hands  with 
such  a  distinguished  picket,  than  to  be  general 
Grant's  most  intimate  friend!"  A  faint  smile 
passed  over  Owen's  face. 

"You  haven't  seen  Mimi,  either,  have  you?'* 
said  "  Little  Picket,"  charmed  with  his  own  recep- 
tion. 

"Walter  inwardly  groaned,  while  still  he  smil- 
ingly professed  that  "  an  introduction  and  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  Mimi,  was  the  one  thing 
lacking  to  complete  his  perfect  happiness." 

So    reluctant   baby   Mimi  —  with   a    head  of 


SHOALS.  33 

fiuch  fair  flaxen  curls,  it  looked  at  a  distance 
like  a  dandelion  top  gone  to  seed  —  was 
dragged  forward,  and  had  her  fat  little  hand 
kissed  in  a  mock  chivalrous  style,  that  won 
"Little  Picket's"  enthusiastic  admiration,  and 
brought  down  merry  applause  from  Honor  and 
Phemie. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  have  used  up  all  your  capi- 
tal, Walter,"  whispered  Owen,  mischievously; 
"  "What  are  you  going  to  do  about  the  twins,  under 
the  sideboard  ?  " 

Walter  started,  but  saw  the  joke  in  a  minute. 
"Just  like  you,  Owen,"  he  said,  laughing  in  spite 
of  himself.  "  I  suppose  you  are  aching  to  let  them 
know  what  a  humbug  I  am ! " 

"  I'll  keep  the  secret  if  you  can,"  said  Owen. 

Uncle  Knowlson  made  his  appearance  before 
the  late  breakfast  was  quite  over  The  old 
man  was  anxious  to  have  everything  settled, 
and  get  back  to  his  quiet  home;  so  in  a  few 
minutes  the  two  boys  were  walking  rapidly 
through  the  busy  street  to  Mr.  Hewlett's  School. 
3 


34  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

How  grand  the  world  seemed  to  them  that 
clear  winter  morning.  The  life,  the  stir  of  the 
city  street  was  exciting;  the  young  blood 
coursed  quicker  through  their  veins  —  their 
heads  were  full  of  projects  of  noble  achieve- 
ment. 

"I  wonder  how  soon  I  can  be  ready  for 
college,"  said  Owen,  breaking  the  silence. 
"I  have  wasted  my  time  these  last  few  years, 
but  now  I  am  ready  for  work,  the  harder  the 
better!" 

"You'll  find  enough  of  it,  probably,"  said 
Uncle  Knowlson.  "Mr.  Howlett,  the  prin- 
cipal, is  a  fine  scholar,  and  hasn't  much  pa- 
tience with  laziness  or  stupidity.  You  will  have 
to  work  pretty  steadily  if  you  come  up  to  his 
mark." 

"  Just  what  I  like,"  cried  Walter,  his  handsome 
face  all  aglow.  "  I'm  all  ready  to  be  up  and  doing, 
with  a  heart  for  any  fate!" 

"Just  this  minute  you  are,"  said  Uncle 
Knowlson,  dryly,  "fresh  from  your  night's  rest, 


8HOALS.  35 

and  drinking  in  this  morning  air,  —  an  elixir 
that  almost  makes  me  young  again,  myself, — 
but  how  will  it  be  after  a  few  hours  fight  with 
logarithms  or  the  Greek  inflections?  I  love 
these  fresh  young  impulses,  but  don't  trust  too 
much  to  them.  Nothing  valuable  was  ever  gained 
yet  without  persistent  —  I  might  even  say,  pain- 
ful effort." 

"  And  that  you  don't  think  I'm  capable  of,"  said 
Walter,  a  cloud  upon  his  face. 

"I  didn't  say  that,  but  I  want  to  warn  you 
against  trusting  to  'spasms  of  energy,'  to  do 
your  work.  You  must  be  willing  to  go  through 
a  great  deal  of  daily,  monotonous  drill,  if  you 
expect  great  results.  But  if  you  force  your- 
selves to  this,  my  boys,"  said  Uncle  Kuowlson, 
smiling,  "there  is  nothing  I  shall  not  expect 
from  you,  —  the  geniuses,  even,  will  have  to  look 
to  their  laurels.  Let  me  tell  you  an  idea  of  one 
of  our  deepest  thinkers.  '  The  galvanic  stream, 
slow  but  continuous,  is  equal  in  power  to  the 
electric  spark,  and  is,  in  our  arts,  a  better  agent.' " 


36  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"What  an  insufferable  old  bore!"  whispered 
Walter  to  his  cousin ;  but  Owen's  clear  eyes  were 
full  of  new  light 

"I  know  I  haven't  any  genius;  there's  no 
'  electric  spark'  about  me,  sir,"  he  cried,  "  but 
I  think  I'll  do  something  with  that  galvanic 
stream ! " 

"  I'm  quite  sure  you  will,"  said  Uncle  Knowl- 
son,  looking  admiringly  in  the  face  so  full  of 
noble  determination. 

"Well,  how  do  you  like  the  school?"  said 
Honor,  as  the  two  boys  came  in  at  twilight,  look- 
ing like  genuine  students,  with  their  new  books 
slung  in  a  strap  across  their  shoulders. 

"  Capitally  well ! "  cried  the  ever  ready  Wal- 
ter. "There  are  some  of  the  best  fellows  there 
that  I  ever  met.  There's  Scott,  and  Sprague, 
and  Fanshawe"  — 

"  I  believe  he  is  the  intimate  friend  of  every 
boy  in  school,  already,"  said  Owen,  laughing. 

"Everybody  is  his  friend,  I  know,"  whis- 
pered Honor  to  Pheniie ;  while  "  Little  Picket " 


SHOALS.  87 

loudly  bewailed  the  cruel  fate  that  had  made 
him  a  small  boy,  —  not  only  cutting  him  off 
from  all  school  companionship  with  that  most 
delightful  "Walter,  —  but  sweeping  him  off  to 
oblivion  and  a  trundle-bed,  just  when  his  hero 
arrived,  and  life  began  to  be  so  fascinating  under 
the  gas  light. 

His  regrets,  however,  were  not  at  all  shared 
by  Walter,  who  gladly  saw  the  last  of  him, 
after  being  bored  for  half  an  hour  by  the  little 
terrier  —  "Spy,"  whom  his  confiding  master  pre- 
sented with  the  information  that  he  considered 
them  —  Walter  and  Spy  —  "  his  two  best  friends, 
and  hoped  they  would  love  each  other." 

"  Little  Picket"  being  at  last  disposed  of,  Wal- 
ter was  all  eagerness  to  begin  his  studies. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  be  a  very  great  scholar," 
said  Honor. 

"  I  shall  not  rest  till  I  stand  the  very  highest 
in  the  school ! "  said  Walter,  loftily. 

Honor  and  Phemie  exchanged  glances  of 
admiration.  "He  will  work  himself  to  death," 


38  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

said  Phemie,  solemnly,  but  there  was  a  merry 
twinkle  in  Owen's  eyes. 

In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  Walter's 
books  were  thrown  down  —  the  "  spasm  of  energy" 
had  passed. 

"  You  don't  know  your  lessons  already ! "  ex- 
claimed Owen,  in  astonishment. 

"Why  yes,  well  enough,"  said  the  boy,  care- 
lessly. "  I  never  did  have  to  drudge  as  some  do, 
you  know." 

"  And  written  your  translation,  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  most  of  it.  I  shall  polish  it  a  little  in 
the  morning. 

Owen  still  looked  incredulous. 

"  Why,  I  am  not  half  through  yet !  It  cannot 
be  that  I  am  so  much  your  inferior,  Walter." 

"  Let  the  facts  speak  for  themselves,"  said  Wal- 
ter, coldly.  "  Come  Honor,  Phemie,  don't  you 
want  to  play  '  Authors'  ?  " 

They  delightedly  ran  to  find  the  game. 

"  Isn't  he  a  bear  ?  "  whispered  Phemie,  "  so  jeal- 
ous of  his  cousin." 


SHOALS.  39 

"  Yes,"  said  Honor,  "  if  one  is  a  snail,  he  needn't 
expect  everybody  else  to  be  forever  crawling  an 
inch ! " 

Owen  overheard  it,  and  winced  a  little.  He 
didn't  care  for  that  fluttering  little  bunch  of  rib- 
bons, Phemie,  but  it  was  hard  to  bear  this  injus- 
tice from  sensible,  kind-hearted  Honor. 

Walter  was  now  in  high  spirits,  and  again 
and  again,  as  Owen  heard  the  merry  laughter 
of  the  party,  he  was  tempted  to  join  them,  but 
the  lessons  were  very  difficult  to  one  who  had 
long  been  out  of  the  habit  of  study,  and  he 
feared  there  would  not  be  time  to  make  up  any 
deficiencies  in  the  morning.  So  he  toiled  pa- 
tiently all  the  evening.  Only  once,  as  his  head 
began  to  ache  with  the  unwonted  application,  he 
appealed  to  his  cousin. 

"  How  did  you  translate  this  last  line,  "Walter  ? 
I  can't  make  any  sense  of  it." 

Walter  colored  slightly.  "I  don't  like  to 
refuse  you,  Owen,  but  you  know  Mr.  Hewlett 
specially  requested  that  no  boy  should  help 


40  DRIFTING  AND  STEEKING. 

another.      I  don't   feel  that  I   could  do   it  in 
honor." 

Owen's  face  was  crimson,  but  he  answered 
steadily,  "You  are  quite  right,  Walter.  Thank 
you  for  the  lesson.  I  shall  never  ask  you 
again." 

"  I  couldn't  bear  to  refuse  him,"  said  "Walter,  in 
a  low  tone,  looking  at  Honor,  uneasily;  "but 
what  ought  I  to  have  done  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  it  was  right,"  said  Honor,  hesita- 
ting. "But  do  you  think  Mr.  Hewlett  meant  to 
be  quite  so  strict?  Seems  to  me  I  would  help 
him  a  little,"  —  she  drew  him  out  in  the  hall. 
"Just  think  how  hard  he  has  to  work  at  some- 
thing you  could  do  in  five  minutes  ! " 

"Well,  I'll  tell  you,"  said  Walter  eagerly,  "  I'll 
help  him  after  we  get  to  our  room.  He  is  too 
proud  to  let  me  do  it  here." 

Honor  nodded.  "Yes,  that's  the  best  way. 
How  tired  he  looks,  poor  fellow ! " 

But  when  the  two  boys  were  at  last  alone  to- 
gether, Walter  carefully  avoided  any  allusion  to 


SHOALS.  41 

the  difficulty  of  the  evening,  while  Owen, — 
whose  nature  was  too  noble  and  sweet  to  treasure 
up  any  little  passing  resentment, —  said,  pleas- 
antly, as  he  bade  him  "good  night," 

"  I  ought  to  thank  you  again,  Walter,  for  not 
helping  me.  It  is  such  an  immense  satisfaction 
to  conquer  your  lions  yourself;  it  makes  one 
stronger,  I  think.  Now  I  have  got  hold  of  that 
crooked  meaning  at  last,  and  I  believe  I  am  hap- 
pier than  if  it  came  as  easy  as  it  did  to  you. 
Good  night;"  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  the 
tired  boy  was  deep  in  his  first,  sound  sleep. 

"When  his  long,  even  breathing  left  no  doubt 
of  his  unconsciousness,  there  was  a  stir  in  Wal- 
ter's bed.  Very  carefully  he  put  out  one  foot  and 
then  another,  but  all  was  still,  and  with  noiseless 
steps  he  reached  the  gas  light  and  carefully  turned 
it  on. 

Owen's  face  was  towards  the  wall,  and  the 
sudden  light  did  not  trouble  him.  Everything 
was  fortunate;  and  hastily  throwing  on  his 
dressing-gown,  Walter  took  up  his  books  with  a 


42  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

long  sigh.  When,  in  the  evening,  he  had  found 
his  lessons  so  unexpectedly  difficult,  and  the 
struggle  to  conquer  them  so  very  uncongenial  to 
his  pleasure-loving  heart,  it  had  occurred  to  him 
that  he  could  ask  Owen,  always  so  ready  to 
oblige,  to  help  him.  His  own  foolishness,  and 
desire  to  astonish  Honor  and  Phemie,  had  made 
this  course  impossible,  and  now  he  must  pay  for 
his  vanity  and  deceit  by  hours  of  study  while  all 
the  household  were  asleep.  But,  hard  as  his  task 
had  been  before,  it  was  doubly  so  now.  It  had 
been  a  busy  day,  and  the  boy  was  sadly  tired. 
His  head  became  confused,  and  the  words  kept 
running  into  each  other  in  the  most  absurd 
jumble. 

"  I  cannot  do  it,"  he  said,  dropping  his  throb- 
bing head  into  his  hands;  "and  I  shall  be  dis- 
graced to-morrow,  the  first  day ! " 

He  thought  of  Honor  and  Phemie,  and  a 
very  vivid  picture  of  their  surprise,  and  per- 
haps, yes,  very  probably,  contempt  rose  before 
him.  And  they  had  so  admired  him,  how  could 


SHOALS.  43 

he  give  it  up!  Even  that  wretched  "  Little 
Picket,"  who  adored  him,  would  be  sure  to  find 
it  out  in  8ome  way,  and  maybe  babble  about  it 
for  days.  Walter  raised  his  head  in  desperation, 
when  right  before  him  he  saw  Owen's  Virgil, 
lying  within  tempting  reach.  With  burning 
cheeks  he  took  it  up  and  opened  it.  There  was 
the  translation  neatly  folded  within,  written 
clearly  in  the  boy's  upright  hand ! 

Walter's  heart  beat  fast.  He  had  not  meant 
to  do  anything  so  dishonorable,  but  what  a  temp- 
tation !  Fifteen  minutes  of  rapid  writing  and  all 
would  be  right.  He  hesitated,  pushed  the  book 
feebly  from  him,  and  then  reasoned  with  con- 
science. 

"  Only  this  once,"  he  said,  and  I  shall  take 
good  care  never  to  get  in  such  a  tight  place 
again." 

Owen  turned  uneasily  in  bed.  "  Pshaw ! "  cried 
Walter,  what  a  fool  I  am !  "  Owen  will  wake 
before  long,  and  then  it  will  be  too  late ! " 

He  seized  his  paper,  and  with  a  nervous,  tremb- 


44  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

ling  hand  rapidly  copied  the  lines,  and  then  laid 
Owen's  book  carefully  just  where  he  found  it. 

But  he  did  not  feel  as  much  relieved  as  he 
hoped.  A  sudden  crack  in  the  floor,  made  the 
drops  stand  out  on  his  forhead.  He  hardly  dared 
turn  his  head  least  he  should  meet  Owen's  won- 
dering eyes.  But  his  fears  were  groundless,  the  in- 
nocent sleeper  had  not  stirred,  and  despising  him- 
self thoroughly,  Walter  crept  shivering  to  bed. 

"  I  wonder  if  these  are  the '  shoals'  Owen  talked 
about,"  he  thought,  as  he  drew  up  the  cover. 
"  Well,  no  one  must  know  that  my  boat  grated  a 
little.  This  is  the  first,  and  it  shall  be  the  last 
time  —  the  last  time,"  he  repeated  to  himself,  as 
he  sank  into  troubled  sleep. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AGROUND. 

HE  first  object  that  met  Walter's  gaze 
the  next    morning,   was   his   cousin, 
again  bending  over  his  book  in  the 
faint  winter  dawn. 

"  How  you  do  grind,  Owen  !  he  cried  irritably. 
"  It  wears  one  out  to  see  you." 

"  Why  I  must  grind  if  I  mean  to  bag  any 
meal,"  cried  Owen  cheerily.  "I'm  not  bril- 
liant like  you,  but  then  I've  get  such  pride  — 
enough  to  go  around  the  biggest  kind  of  a  royal 
family,  Queen  Vic's,  for  example,  German 
princes  and  all!  So  I  don't  mean  to  disgrace 
you  to-day.  You  shan't  be  ashamed  of  me, 
Walty!" 

Walter,    with  reddening   face,  looked   at   his 
(45) 


46  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

cousin  keenly,  but  no  sarcasm  had  been  intended. 
Owen's  humility  was  real. 

"Listen  to  this  a  minute,"  continued  Owen, 
"  Last  night  I  thought  I  had  this  line  all  right, 
but  this  morning  I  see  it  plainer,  this  last  con- 
struction makes  the  most  sense,  you  see,"  and 
Owen  read  his  two  translations. 

"Read  them  again,  slower,"  said  "Walter, 
anxiously,  "  Yes,  of  course,  the  first  is  nonsense," 
he  added,  as  Owen  complied. 

"  I  know  you  think  I'm  a  wretched  blockhead," 
laughed  Owen,  "  but  I  shall  do  better  by  and  by," 

Walter  said  not  a  word,  but  lingered  over 
his  toilet  till  Owen  left  the  room,  and  then  with 
hasty  hand  erased  the  erring  line,  and  substi- 
tuted the  one  his  good  memory  supplied.  "It 
is  a  mean  piece  of  work ! "  he  confessed  to  him- 
self, and  again  quieting  conscience  with  the 
promise  — "  it  shall  be  the  last  time,"  he  slowly 
followed  Owen. 

Mr.  Hewlett  was  greatly  pleased  with  his 
two  new  pupils  that  day,  and  felt  that  such 


AGROUXD.  47 

scholarship  would  add  to  the  reputation  of  his 
school.  At  his  words  of  commendation,  it  would 
be  hard  to  tell  whose  cheeks  were  the  hottest, 
but  Owen's  clear  eyes  were  lifted  proudly  to  the 
muster's  face,  and  Walter's  were  cast  upon  the 
floor. 

"  We  have  made  a  splendid  beginning,  eh, 
"Walty  ?"  said  Owen,  as  they  walked  briskly  home 
from  school,  "but  I  shall  have  to  work  like  a 
gaily-slave  to  keep  up.  Do  you  know  the  way  in 
which  you  learn  your  lessons  seems  a  little  short 
of  a  miracle  to  such  a  '  slow  coach,'  as  I  am.  I 
could  hardly  believe  you  last  night,  but  you've 
proved  it  to-day !  " 

But  his  generous  praise,  very  unaccountably, 
seemed  disagreeable  to  Walter,  and  he  let  the  sub- 
ject drop. 

When  evening  again  came,  Walter  sat  down 
determinedly  to  his  books.  Mrs.  Whately  was 
entertaining  friends  in  the  parlor;  Honor  was 
busy  with  her  French;  Phemie  sighed  softly 
over  the  intricacies  of  her  fancy-work,  and  you 


48  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

might  have  heard  a  pin  drop  for  an  hour. 
There  was  nothing  to  disturb  Walter,  but  he 
was  tired  with  his  struggles  all  day  to  keep  up 
in  the  studies  he  could  not  copy  from  Owen! 
and  now  his  task  seemed  harder  than  ever, 
while  an  occasional  pleased  expression  from  his 
cousin, — as  some  abstruse  meaning  dawned 
upon  him, — irritated  him  almost  beyond  endur- 
ance. Still  harder  was  it  when  Phemie,  at  length, 
with  an  undisguised  yawn,  cried  out. 

"Aren't  you  most  ready  to  play  something, 
Walter  ?  Let's  try  croquet  to-night." 

"Not  quite  ready,"  said  Walter,  with  an 
effort. 

"But  you've  been  twice  as  long  as  you  were 
last  night,"  persisted  Phemie. 

"  I  have  a  bad  headache,"  said  Walter,  strug- 
gling to  preserve  the  politeness  upon  which  he 
prided  himself. 

Owen  looked  up  with  quick  sympathy, — 

"Don't  try  to  study  then,  Walty.  You  can 
get  up  early  in  the  morning,  or  I  can  help  you  a 


AGROUND.  49 

little.  I'm  sure  it  wouldn't  be  dishonorable 
under  the  circumstances." 

But  Walter  declined  proudly.  He  could  not 
admit  before  Honor  and  Phemie,  that  he,  the 
brilliant  Walter,  was  ever  reduced  to  dependence 
upon  another. 

"I  understand  him,"  said  large-hearted 
Owen,  judging  him  by  himself.  "He  wants 
to  earn  his  laurels  fairly,  and  be  sure  he  has  a 
right  to  them  up  to  the  last  twig!  You  ought 
to  have  heard  Mr.  Hewlett  praise  him  to-day. 
I  don't  wonder  that  he  is  a  little  proud,  and 
doesn't  want  any  bungler  to  interfere  with  his 
work." 

"  And  you,"  said  Honor,  raising  her  sweet  face, 
u  what  did  he  say  to  you  9  " 

Owen  waited  a  moment  half  hoping,  nay  ex- 
pecting, that  Walter  would  speak  for  him,  but 
there  was  not  a  word. 

"I?"  said  the  boy  at  last^with  an  ingenuous 
blush.  "  Well,  I  did  not  disgrace  my  cousin,  and 

that  is  praise  enough,  eh,  Walty  ?  " 
4 


5Cf  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

But  Walter  rose  suddenly,  and  pushed  his  book 
aside. 

"There  is  no  use,"  said  he,  petulantly. 
"  Come,  we  will  play ;  and  soon  in  the  grace-- 
ful,  active  game,  studies  and  headache  seemed  all 
forgotten. 

It  was  only  when  they  were  again  alone  in, 
their  room,  the  cloud  came  back. 

"  I  don't  care  if  you  do  help  me  a  little,"  said 
Walter,  flinging  himself  into  the  easiest  chair 
in  the  room;  and  Owen  was  at  his  side  in  a 
minute  with  Lexicon  and  Grammar.  Very 
ungraciously  did  he  receive  the  proffered  help. 
It  was  so  hard  for  "Walter  to  acknowledge  in- 
feriority, and  so  galling  to  have  Owen  criticising 
the  few  lines  he  had  already  rendered,  and  reduc- 
ing them  to  more  sensible,  orderly  English.  At 
last  he  could  stand  it  no  longer. 

"I  declare  Owen,"  cried  he,  flinging  the 
book  across  the  ro^>m,  "  I  can't  endure  such 
patronizing.  You  are  insufferable  when  you  get 


AGROUND.  51 

on  your  stilts,  and  I'd  rather  fail  than  be  indebted 
to  you!" 

Walter  saw  that  he  had  gone  too  far,  aud 
was  sorry  the  next  minute,  but  couldn't  bring 
himself  to  acknowledge  it  So  the  silence  was 
unbroken  till  Owen's  cold  good-night,  to  which 
he  did  not  respond. 

Tired,  and  miserable,  the  boy  struggled  on 
with  his  task  another  half  hour,  but  he  was  not 
at  all  satisfied  with  his  success.  There  would 
be  no  praise  for  him  to-morrow.  The  greatest 
blockhead  in  the  class  would  laugh  at  his  awk- 
ward constructions.  Was  there  no  way  of  escape  ? 
Yes,  Owen's  careful  work  was  within  arm's  reach; 
the  temptation  just  as  strong,  and  the  will  to 
resist  it  so  much  weaker!  Again  Walter  fal- 
tered,—  fell;  but  this  time  the  sense  of  his  mean- 
ness was  not  so  keen.  He  could  even  congratu- 
late himself  upon  having  accomplished  the  theft 
so  safely  once  more,  and  rather  enjoyed  the 
thought  of  Owen's  surprise  the  next  day.  Still 
he  did  not  feel  quite  easy,  and  he  had  to  promise 


52  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

himself  again  and  again  that  the  offence  should 
not  be  repeated. 

A  few  weeks  passed  by.  Now  and  then 
Walter  had  accomplished  his  task  unaided,  but 
the  effort  was  a  great  weariness;  and  whenever 
he  wished  to  spend  an  evening  in  music  or 
games  with  Honor  and  Phemie,  there  was  always 
such  an  easy  way  of  making  up  his  deficiencies. 
What  great  harm  was  there  in  availing  himself 
of  it  now  and  then,  and  playing  such  a  good  game 
on  that  prig  of  an  Owen  ?  So,  unconsciously, 
the  habit  grew  upon  him,  and  after  a  few  more 
weak  struggles,  the  nightly  thefts  became  quite  a 
matter  of  course,  which  no  longer  troubled  his 
conscience. 

To  be  sure  he  had  one  quite  serious  fright 
when  Mr.  Howlett  remarked  one  day  that  the 
translations  seemed  singularly  alike.  He  had 
always  been  wise  enough  not  to  copy  them  too 
literally,  but  now  he  was  still  more  careful, 
substituting  different  forma  of  expression  with 
great  skill,  and  sometimes  even  allowing  one  or 


AGROUND.  53 

two  extra  mistakes,  rather  thau  run  the  risk  of 
discovery. 

As  for  his  other  studies,  "Walter  had  fair 
abilities  and  a  good  memory.  A  little  applica- 
tion would  carry  him  very  far,  but  he  could  not 
always  trust  to  that.  There  were  more  ways 
than  one  of  getting  over  the  work,  as  he  had 
learned  from  Scott  and  Fanshawe,  —  capital 
fellows,  —  who  had  helped  him  out  of  many  a 
scrape !  They  taught  him  the  secrets  of  writing 
out  formulas  and  dates  upon  his  wristbands,  and 
of  carrying  a  little  roll  of  thin  paper  in  the  palm 
of  his  hand,  upon  which  a  whole  lesson  could  be 
inscribed  in  miscroscopic  characters.  All  this,  in 
a  fit  of  extreme  good  humor,  Walter  confided  to 
his  cousin,  one  day,  as  they  walked  to  school. 
Owen  had  been  unable  to  study  the  evening 
before,  on  account  of  headache,  and  he  had 
been  busy  all  the  morning  in  some  service  of  Mrs. 
Whately. 

"  I  shall  fail  to-day,  Walter,  for  the  first  time," 
he  said  gloomily. 


54  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  No  earthly  need  of  that,"  said  "Walter,  smil- 
ing slyly,  and  pushing  up  his  sleeve  that  his  as- 
tonished cousin  might  see  the  faint  tracery  on  his 
wristband ;  he  offered  his  fine-pointed  pencil,  tell- 
ing him  there  would  yet  be  time  to  jot  down  the 
most  important  heads  of  the  lesson. 

Owen  drew  himself  up,  his  blue  eyes  flashed 
fire,  while  he  spoke  one  brief  word  — "  Impos- 
sible!" 

"  "What  a  fool  I  have  been ! "  cried  "Walter, 
feeling  bitterly  his  own  imprudence.  "  Now  the 
next  thing,  I  suppose,  with  your  exquisite  sense 
of  honor,  will  be  to  expose  us  all  to  old  Hewlett ! " 

"You  haven't  any  right  to  suppose  anything 
of  the  kind,"  cried  Owen ;  "  but  oh,  Walter,  how 
you  have  the  face  to  receive  Mr.  Hewlett's  praise, 
when"  — 

"  I  suppose  it  isn't  quite  right,"  said  "Walter 
uneasily. 

"  Quite  right !    It  is  mean  and  contemptible ! " 

"  Those  are  hard  words,  Owen,"  said  Waltei, 
coloring. 


AGROUXD.  55 

"  None  too  hard,"  cried  Owen,  excitedly. 
"  Don't  you  know,  Walter,  that  every  deceit  we 
admit  into  our  hearts,  makes  the  entrance  larger, 
till  at  last  there  is  room  for  the  greatest  treachery 
to  pass  in ! " 

"  Thank  you  for  your  flattering  opinion,"  said 
Walter,  trying  to  break  away  from  his  cousin's 
detaining  arm.  "  I  am  no  company  for  you,  let 
me  go." 

"You  shan't  leave  me  so,  Walter,"  cned 
Owen,  clinging  to  his  hand.  "  What  a 
wretched  bungler  I  am !  When  I  am  excited,  I 
hardly  know  what  I  am  saying.  But  you  must 
forgive  me,  and  believe  that  I  only  spoke  so  be- 
cause I  love  you  so  dearly.  Are  we  not  brothers?  " 
said  he,  in  his  winning  way.  "  Come,  give  the 
cold  shoulder  to  Scott  and  Fanshawe.  There 
are  some  noble,  warmhearted  fellows  in  the 
school,  who  are  above  all  this  sort  of  thing.  Let 
us  join  them,  Walty,  and  all  set  our  faces  together 
against  these  dishonorable  tricks ! " 


56  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  I  will  think  of  it,"  said  Walter,  evasively,  as 
they  entered  the  school-room,  and  separated  to 
their  seats. 

But  at  the  very  next  recitation,  Owen,  whose 
eyes  were  now  opened,  caught  the  rustling  of 
the  disgraceful  papers  in  many  a  hand,  and  well 
understood  why  Walter's  eyes  were  so  persistently 
bent  upon  his  coat-sleeve. 

There  was  a  brilliant  recitation;  Owen  Grey 
and  Charley  Morgan,  the  best  students  in  the 
class,  were  the  only  ones  that  missed. 

"  Mind  against  wristbands,"  whispered  Charley 
to  Walter,  as  they  filed  to  their  seats.  Which  will 
win  in  the  long  run  ?  " 

Walter's  face  flushed  with  an  angry  retort,  but 
just  then  Scott  gave  an  exclamation  of  dismay, 
and  going  back  a  few  steps,  tried  to  pick  up  a 
fluttering  paper,  which  some  of  the  mischievous, 
smaller  boys,  making  fans  of  their  handkerchiefs, 
were  urging  still  farther  on. 

"What  is  that  paper?"  asked  Mr.  Hewlett, 
struck  with  Scott's  evident  anxiety. 


AGROUND.  57 

"  My  translation,  sir,"  said  the  unblushing 
Scott,  hastily  picking  it  up. 

"  Let  me  see  it,"  said  Mr.  Howlett,  curtly. 

The  whole  school  was  looking  now,  and  Wal- 
ter's breath  came  hard  and  fust. 

"Your  translation,  sir!"  exclaimed  good 
Mr.  Howlett,  grieved  and  indignant,  as  he  dis- 
covered the  trick  that  had  been  played  upon 
him. 

Scott  boldly  protested  his  innocence.  "  If  it  is 
not  my  translation,  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  the 
paper!"  he  looked  over  Mr.  Hewlett's  shoulder. 
"  No,  sir,  that  is  not  mine !  You  can  see  it  is  not 
my  handwriting," 

Walter  felt  in  his  pocket  in  a  tremor.  Whose 
was  it  then  ?  A  slight  hiss  attracted  his  atten- 
tion to  Fanshawe,  whose  %  eyes  were  flashing 
fire,  and  it  was  all  clear  to  his  mind  in  a  minute. 
Scott  hadn't  had  time  to  copy  his  lesson,  and 
Fanshawe  had  obligingly  slipped  his  paper 
along.  But  what  horrid  meanness  in  Scott! 


58  DRIFTING  AXD  STEERING. 

Alas,  to  what  depth  of  meanness  will  not  deceit 
lead  us. 

Mr.  Hewlett  had  adj  u  sted  his  spectacles.  "  This 
is  not  Scott's  writing,  it  is  true,"  said  he,  slowly. 
"  Is  there  any  boy  honest  enough  to  acknowledge 
it?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  it  is  mine ! "  said  Fanshawe,  rising, 
with  a  withering  glance  at  Scott. 

"  There  is  something  good  in  the  boy  after  all," 
whispered  Owen  to  Charley. 

"  He  has  made  a  virtue  of  necessity,  I  guess,'* 
responded  Charley.  "  He  knew  the  writing  could 
be  easily  traced." 

Mr.  Hewlett  looked  at  Fanshawe  with  a  glance 
full  of  sorrowful  indignation.  "  Do  you  know  of 
any  more  boys  who  are  engaged  in  such  a  con- 
temptible piece  of  deception  ?  " 

Fanshawe   looked  full  in    the  master's   eyes. 

«  No  sir." 

A  murmur  of  applause  ran  through  the  school- 
room, while  a  load  fell  from  a  dozen  guilty  hearts. 
Mr.  Howlett  rapped  loudly  for  silence. 


AGROUND.  59 

"You  must  confess,  sir,"  said  he,  addressing 
himself  to  Faushawe,  "you  have  given  me  very 
little  reason  to  trust  in  your  word,  but  I  shall  try 
to  believe  you.  It  is  very  painful  to  think  that 
these  boys,  of  whose  scholarship  I  have  been  so 
proud,  have  only  been  deceiving  me.  Must  I  call 
them  to  my  desk  after  this,  and  search  them  like 
a  band  of  young  pickpockets,  before  I  can  trust  a 
recitation  ?  " 

Every  cheek  was  burning  now.  "  No,"  said 
Mr  Howlett,  softening  a  little,  as  he  caught  sight 
of  Owen's  face,  flushed,  but  eloquent  with  con- 
scious innocence.  "  I  will  not  believe  this  mean- 
ness is  universal,  and  I  will  not  run  the  risk  of 
being  unjust  to  the  innocent.  Fanshawe  alone 
shall  suffer  this  time,  but  his  punishment  must 
be  something  that  he,  and  every  guilty  boy  in  the 
school,  must  remember."  He  looked  at  him 
sternly  —  "  Eben  Fanshawe  may  consider  himself 
cut  off  from  all  competition  for  the  prizes." 

This  is  a  most  severe  blow  for  the  boy.  He 
was  very  ambitious,  though  sometimes,  like  Wai- 


60  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

ter,  through  indolence  or  love'of  pleasure,  he  neg- 
lected his  studies,  and  then  lowered  himself  to 
maintain  his  standing  hy  deception.  But  he  had 
meant  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf  towards  the  end  of 
the  term,  and  work  like  a  dray-horse.  Now,  all 
was  over !  and  with  a  heart  full  of  bitterness  and 
mortification,  he  took  his  seat. 

It  was  an  excited  crowd  of  boys  that  poured 
forth  at  the  close  of  school,  and  gathered  around 
Fan  sh  awe. 

"  Let  me  shake  hands  with  you,  old  fellow ! " 
cried  "Walter,  enthusiastically.  "You  are  true 
game !  There's  nothing  cowardly  about  you  I " 

This  sentiment  was  echoed  on  every  side,  and 
Faushawe,  smiling  faintly,  began  to  think  him- 
self a  hero. 

Only  three  boys  did  not  join  in  the  general 
adulation.  Scott,  who  tried  in  vain  to  slink  away 
unnoticed,  but  was  pursued  "with  snowballs,  and 
yells  of  execration  ;  and  Owen  and  Charley,  who 
lingered  irresolutely  in  the  porch. 

Fanshawe  gave  them  many  an  uneasy  glance. 


AGROUND.  61 

"Don't  mind  the  stupid  owls!"  cried  Walter, 
contemptuously.  "If  they  can  only  flap  away 
into  a  tree  of  knowledge  somewhere,  and  wink 
and  blink  all  day  over  their  own  wisdom  ;  that's 
their  idea  of  happiness.  Let  them  go;  we  are 
freer  and  nobler  birds ;  eagles  that  can  fly  straight 
into  the  sun." 

The  smaller  boys  clapped  their  hands  at  this 
brilliant  speech;  but  Duncan  Brown,  looking 
wistfully  at  his  grimed  wristbands,  said  slowly, — 

"  If  we  were  only  sure  of  being  eagles,  Walty, 
and  not  perhaps  chimney-swallows,  with  lots  of 
soot  on  our  wings." 

"  A  traitor !  a  traitor !  "  cried  Walter,  not  lik- 
ing such  a  turn.  "  Hop  out  of  our  nest  quick !  I 
think  I  see  owl  pin-feathers  sprouting  this  min- 
ute !  and  there's  such  a  look  of  supernatural  wis- 
dom in  your  eyes,  my  dear  Dunky,  Donkey ! " 

Everybody  laughed,  for  Duncan  was  prover- 
bially stupid.  But  Fanshawe's  gloom  soon  re- 
turned. 


62  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"I  declare,"  said  Walter,  "old  Hewlett  was 
shamefully  severe,  just  for  one  little  oifence." 

"  I  hate  him ! "  said  Fanshawe,  through  his 
teeth. 

"  Isn't  there  anything  we  could  do  to  show  the 
old  hunks  what  the  school  thinks  of  such 
tyranny  ?  " 

"I'd  like  to  shy  one  good  hard  snowball  at 
him ! "  said  one  of  the  smaller  boys,  valiantly. 

"I'll  tell  you  what,"  said  Fanshawe,  an  idea 
striking  him.  "  You  know  he  always  stays  por- 
ing over  some  old  book  till  dark.  Why  couldn't 
a  few  of  us  get  in  that  vacant  lot  by  Orange 
Street,  and  give  him  one  volley  as  he  comes  past. 
I'll  promise  to  aim  for  his  eyes  and  blind  him 
first,  then  all  the  rest  can  fire  together,  and  cut 
sticks ;  he  is  too  clumsy  to  follow." 

"  I'll  stand  by  you ! "  cried  Walter.  "  You  saved 
us  to-day." 

"  But  aren't  we  rather  old  for  that  kind  of 
thing?"  said  Duncan,  uneasily. 

"  Too  old  to  be  caught  at  it,"  laughed  Walter ; 


AGROUND.  63 

"but  we  won't  be.  He  might  suspect  a  little  who 
it  was,  and  I  hope  he  will ;  but  he  couldn't  swear 
to  one  of  us.  And  then  to-morrow  morning  we 
can  all  sit  there  as  innocent  as  possible,  looking 
like  so  many  doves.  It  will  be  great  fun!"  The 
little  boys  clapped  their  hands  delightedly.  "  Hush, 
here  come  the  owls ! "  said  Walter,  as  Owen  and 
Charley  came  slowly  down  the  steps. 

"  I  sha'n't  come  home  just  now,"  suid  Walter, 
as  Owen  seemed  waiting  for  him.  "  I  shall  spend 
the  evening  with  Fanshawe." 

Owen  drew  him  one  side.  "I  wish  you  wouldn't, 
Walty." 

"Why?"  said  Walter,  irritably.  "You  cer- 
tainly cannot  object  to  Fanshawe  now.  Did  you 
ever  know  a  braver  boy  ?  " 

"  It  was  noble  in  him  to  wish  to  suffer  alone, 
certainly,  but  I  wish  he  hadn't  spoiled  it  all  by 
telling  a  lie." 

"  0,  you  would  have  had  him  betray  us  all ! " 
said  Walter,  contemptuously. 

"Not  at  all,"  said  Owen.    "But  if  he  had  said 


64  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

that,  in  schoolboy  honor,  he  could  only  speak  for 
himself,  I  am  sure  Mr.  Hewlett  would  have  ex- 
cused him.  There  is  a  great  deal  that  is  facina- 
ting  about  Fanshawe,  I  can  see,  but  that  only 
makes  him  a  more  dangerous  companion,  Walty. 
He  hasn't  any  principle;  nothing  is  wrong  to 
him  as  long  as  it  can  be  made  to  appear  right ; 
and  disgrace,  in  his  dictionary,  seems  to  mean 
simply  being  found  out ! " 

"How  ungenerous  and  narrow-minded  you 
are ! "  cried  "Walter.  "  You  are  incapable  of  appre- 
ciating such  a  fellow  as  Fanshawe!"  and  he  flung 
angrily  away  to  take  the  arm  of  his  favorite,  and 
walk  off  in  an  opposite  direction. 

That  night,  as  poor  Mr.  Howlett  was  walking 
slowly  home,  with  bent  head,  deeply  engaged  in 
some  abstruse  train  of  reasoning,  a  hard  snowball, 
well-aimed,  struck  him  high  on  his  cheek,  shat- 
tering his  spectacles.  Before  he  could  rally, 
another  struck  him  on  the  temples.  Another  and 
another  came  with  bewildering  rapidity,  before, 
smarting  and  blinded,  he  recovered  himself  suffi- 


AGROUND.  65 

ciently  to  turn  upon  his  tormentors.  Then  there 
was  a  sound  of  hurrying  feet,  and  in  the  dim  light 
one  or  two  dusky  figures  could  be  seen  leaping  the 
rear  fence.  It  was  useless  to  think  of  following 
them,  or  trying  to  identify  them.  The  plan  was 
well  laid,  and  the  young  scamps  had  all  escaped. 
But  as  Mr.  Hewlett,  with  aching  head,  leaned 
against  the  fence,  he  descried  something  white 
fluttering  to  and  fro  in  the  night  wind.  He 
climbed  over  and  picked  it  up.  It  was  a  handker- 
chief, and  near  by  lay  a  pencil-case,  both  of  which 
he  put  carefully  in  his  pocket. 

Walter  was  greatly  excited  when  he  came  in 
that  night. 

"Did  you  have  a  pleasant  evening?"  said 
Owen,  looking  up;  "I  went  down  to  Fanshawe's 
hoping  to  find  you  after  tea,  but  you  were  not  in." 

"  Playing  spy,  eh  ? "  he  whispered,  angrily. 
Then  mindful  of  Mrs.  Whately  and  Honor,  he 
added,  more  courteously,  "  We  were  at  Mr.  Pom- 
fret's  lecture,"  which  was  indeed  true ;  Fanshawe 


66  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

and  he  having  strolled  into  the  Lyceum,  after  the 
snowballing. 

"I  am  so  glad!"  said  Owen,  involuntarily; 
"for  I  met  Duncan  Brown  on  my  way  home,  and 
he  told  me  Mr.  Hewlett  had  been  assaulted,  snow- 
balled by  a  parcel  of  rascally  boys,  and  really  in- 
jured quite  seriously." 

"  What  a  shame ! "  cried  Mrs.  Whately. 

Walter's  cheeks  were  flaming,  as  he  said  with  a 
confusion  which  Honor  and  Phemie  took  for  hon- 
est and  very  natural  indignation,  — "  And  my 
cousin  does  me  the  honor  to  suspect  that  I  was 
one  of  the  party ! " 

"  Oh,  no,"  cried  Mrs.  Whately.  "  Of  course  he 
did  not  think  you  would  have  anything  to  do 
with  such  a  cowardly,  school-boy  trick." 

"  I  should  think  not ! "  said  Honor,  with  a  look 
of  sympathy  at  Walter's  flushed  face,  while  Phemie 
darted  a  look  of  reproach  at  the  unfortunate  Owen. 

The  boy  hung  his  head  in  genuine  humility. 
"  I  did  think  so,"  said  he,  simply,  —  scorning  an. 
evasion,  even  though  he  knew  what  the  truth 


AGROUND.  67 

would  cost  him ;  "  but  I  ask  "Walter's  forgiveness, 
from  the  bottom  of  my  heart." 

The  pardon  was  coldly  accorded,  and  very  dis- 
pirited and  uncomfortable  poor  Owen  felt. 

"  I  believe  I  have  been  a  prig  lately,"  he  thought 
to  himself.  "  I  have  set  myself  too  much  above 
Walty,  and  now  I  have  been  ungenerous  and  un- 
just No  wonder  they  all  dislike  me! " 

"When  the  two  boys  reached  their  room,  his 
apologies  were  eagerly  reiterated,  but  Walter  made 
scarcely  any  reply ;  and  Owen  could  only  sorrow- 
fully pray  for  help  to  steer  more  skilfully  and 
carefully  in  future. 

But  "Walter  was  in  far  greater  trouble. 

"  So  Duncan  has  begun  to  tell,  has  he,  and  he 
knows  the  name  of  every  boy  in  the  party.  I  sus- 
pected the  obstinate  mule,  when  he  refused  to  join 
us,"  thought  Walter,  "  and  now  what  is  to  hinder 
his  exposing  us  all  to  Mr.  Hewlett  to-morrow  ? 
It  will  be  a  bad  piece  of  business,"  and  he  tossed 
restlessly  on  his  bed.  "So  hard  too,"  he  mur- 
mured, "just  as  I  really  meant  to  get  off  those 


68  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

'  shoals,'  to  find  I  have  only  drifted  farther  on, 
got  fairly  aground  now,  I  should  say;  but  I  must 
push  off  this  time ;  even  if  I  have  to  take  a  false- 
hood for  a  pole.  And  then  —  after  this"  —  he 
comforted  himself,  "  I  shall  watch  more  carefully 
where  I  am  going." 


CHAPTER  TV. 

DOUBLING  A  POINT. 

an  anxious  glance  was  inter- 
changed the  next  morning,  as  Mr. 
Hewlett,  with  bruised  and  swollen 
face,  and  shade  over  one  eye,  entered  the  school- 
room. Many  a  boy  wished  most  sincerely  that 
he  had  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  cowardly 
business ;  but  regrets  were  too  late.  They  must 
now  stand  by  each  other  —  look  as  innocent  as 
their  beating  hearts  would  allow,  and  hope  that 
their  secret  was  yet  sate.  Very  uneasy  they  felt, 
however,  when  the  bell  was  rung,  and  Mr.  Ben- 
son the  under  teacher,  was  ordered  to  bring  in 
all  the  boys  of  the  second  department. 

"  It  is  an  affair  of  state,  this  time,"  whispered 

Charley.    "  I  thought  I  was  innocent,  but  I  de- 
(CO) 


70  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

clare  I'd  crawl  into  my  boots  in  a  minute,  if  they 
were  a  size  larger." 

Fanshawe  was  also  exchanging  quick  whispers 
with  Walter. 

"  Those  small  boys  will  ruin  us,"  said  he. 
«  That  white-faced  baby,  Ed  Potter,  is  full  to  the 
brim  now.  One  hard  word  from  old  Hewlett, 
and  the  secret  will  run  over." 

"  Let's  try  counter-irritation,"  said  Walter ;  and 
he  gave  such  a  fierce  scowl  at  the  tender-hearted 
child,  that  he  tumbled  into  his  seat  almost  in  a 
state  of  idiocy. 

But  the  danger  did  not  lie  in  that  direction. 
When  all  was  still,  Mr.  Hewlett  briefly  detailed 
the  facts  of  the  case,  —  told  them  how  unwill- 
ing he  had  been  to  believe  that  he  had  been 
attacked  by  the  boys  of  his  own  school;  but 
unhappily  he  had  been  forced  to  the  most  mor- 
tifying conclusions.  In  their  hasty  flight,  his 
brave  assailants  had  not  carried  off  all  their  prop- 
erty with  them ;  he  had  picked  up  a  pencil  case, 
and  a  handkerchief! 


DOUBLING  A  POINT.  71 

There  was  a  noise  in  the  room,  as  if  the  wind 
had  suddenly  blown  through  a  forest  in  full- 
leaved  June,  —  then  all  was  painfully  still. 

"Upon  the  pencil-case,"  continued  Mr.  How- 
lett,  "  there  is  engraved  the  name  of  Eben  Fun- 
shawe,  and  upon  the  corner  of  the  handkerchief 
I  find  —  most  regretfully  I  say  it — Owen  Grey! 
Will  those  two  boys  stand  out  before  the  whole 
school  ?  " 

Owen's  distress  was  quite  grievous  to  see  — 
Charley  pressed  his  hand. 

"  There's  some  horrid  mistake  about  this,  my 
dear  boy.  Why,  Mr.  Hewlett  will  know  better 
himself,  when  he  thinks  a  minute." 

But  there  was  no  help  for  it.  The  command 
was  sternly  repeated,  and  Owen,  with  burning 
cheeks  —  the  focus  for  every  eye  in  the  school, 
walked  out,  and  took  his  place  by  Fanshawe. 
Such  a  look  as  Mr.  Howlett  gave  him !  it  almost 
broke  his  heart. 

"There  were  at  least  a  dozen  boys  more,  I 
should  think,  although  I  cannot  call  their 


72  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

names.  Must  I  treat  the  whole  school  with  sus- 
picion, or  will  those  boys  have  the  common 
honesty  to  take  their  places  where  they  belong, 
by  Grey  and  Fanshawe  ?  " 

There  was  many  a  stealthy  glance  at  Walter, 
who  sat  with  folded  arms,  and  wonderfully  un- 
moved countenance.  The  conspirators  gained 
courage.  Not  a  bpy  stirred  except  the  "  baby," 
Ed  Potter,  who,  with  a  loud  sob,  started  precipi- 
tately from  his  seat,  and  rushing  by  Fanshawe, 
clung  desperately  to  Owen's  hand. 

"  I  was  one  of  'em,  sir,"  sobbed  he.  "  I  made 
as  big  a  ball  as  I  could,  and  tried  to  plump  it 
right  at  you." 

Mr.  Howlett  smiled  in  spite  of  himself  at 
this  fordmidable  assailant.  "  Very  well,  we  shall 
attend  to  your  case  afterwards.  But"  —  he  re- 
sumed his  sternness,  "  what  have  you  to  say  for 
yourselves,  young  gentlemen ;  you,  who  have  not 
the  excuse  of  extreme  youth  —  who  must  have 
been  the  leaders  ?  " 

"Only  the  truth,  sir,"  said  Owen,  lifting  his 


DOUBLING  A  POINT.  73 

fearless  blue  eyes.  "  I  was  not  there,  and 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter  till  it  was  all 
over ! " 

Mr.  Howlett  looked  at  him  keenly.  "I 
should  like  to  believe  you,  Grey,  but  it  is  hard 
to  tell  whom  to  trust  in  the  school  now.  The 
standard  is  very  low,  —  disgracefully  low. 
How  do  you  account  for  this  handkerchief, 
sir?" 

"  I  cannot  explain  that  at  all,"  said  Owen, 
anxiously. 

Mr.  Howlett  sighed,  and  turned  to  Fanshawe. 
"  And  you,  sir  ?  " 

"I  was  not  there,"  said  Fanshawe,  promptly. 
"  I  can  prove  an  alibi.  I  was  at  Mr.  Pomfret's 
lecture  with  "Walter  Houghton." 

«  Is  that  true,  Hough  ton  ?" 

Walter  instantly  rose.    "  Yes,  sir." 

The  little  boys  were  gazing  with  open-mouthed 
admiration  at  the  audacity  and  bravery  of  their 
dangerous  hero. 

"  Give    me   the   subject   of  the   lecture,  and 


74  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

some  of  its  heads,"  said  Mr.  Hewlett,  incredu- 
lously. 

"Russia,  and  its  relations  to  the  United 
States,"  said  Walter,  promptly,  while  Fanshawe, 
with  growing  confidence,  supplied  some  of  the 
main  arguments  and  illustrations. 

"  That  is  very  true,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Benson.  "  I 
was  there  myself." 

"  And  the  pencil-case  ?  " 

"  I  don't  understand  that,  sir,"  said  Fanshawe  ; 
"  but  one  boy  or  another  has  it  all  the  time.  I 
often  don't  see  it  for  weeks  together." 

"I  have  wronged  you  then,"  said  Mr  How- 
lett,  sarcastically.  "Little  Potter  was  my  only 
assailant,  and  the  handkerchief  and  pencil-case 
were  only  out  taking  an  evening  stroll  by  them- 
selves. Pardon  me,  young  gentlemen,  you  may 
take  your  seats  for  the  present.  No,  stop  a  min- 
ute. Did  Owen  Grey  prove  an  alibi  also  ?" 

"  No  sir,  but  I  think  I  could." 

"Where  were  you  about  half-past  seven 
o'clock  ?  " 


DOUBLING  A  POINT.  75 

"At  home,  sir;  no,  let  me  think,"  said  he,  color- 
ing, as  he  caught  Duncan's  anxious  eye. 

"I  went  out  after  that,  I  don't  exactly  know 
what  time  it  was.  Perhaps  Duncan  can  tell,  I 
met  him." 

"  It  was  twenty-five  minutes  of  eight,"  said 
Duncan.  "I  was  waiting  at  Dr.  Skilton's  for 
a  prescription,  and  had  just  looked  at  my 
watch." 

"  And  Dr.  Skilton's  office  is,  let  me  see,  cor- 
ner of"— 

"  Orange  and  Washington,"  said  Duncan,  un- 
willingly. 

"  Did  he  seem  in  a  hurry  ?  " 

"He  always  walks  fast,"  said  Duncan,  eva- 
sively. 

"Twenty-five  minutes  of  eight,"  said  Mr.  How- 
lett,  slowly.  "  I  reached  home  just  five  minutes 
later. 

Every  one  knew  what  inferences  the  master 
was  drawing.  The  circumstances  were  very 
suspicious. 


76  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  You  still  deny  any  knowledge  of  the  matter, 
Grey,"  said  Mr.  Hewlett,  stiffly. 

"I  still  deny  it,  sir,"  said  Owen,  striving  to 
keep  back  the  rushing  tears. 

Mr.  Hewlett  waived  them  sternly  to  their 
seats.  "I  shall  punish  no  one  upon  mere  sus- 
picion," said  he.  "Let  the  guilty  take  what 
satisfaction  they  can  in  their  escape.  I  should 
not  have  been  severe  with  you,  if  you  had  con- 
fessed," continued  good  Mr.  Hewlett,  sorrow- 
fully. "  The  sin  of  to-day  is  far  more  grievious 
to  me  than  the  cowardice  of  yesterday.  I  am 
afraid  your  honor  and  manliness  has  received  a 
fatal  wound ! " 

"  Ask  Eddy  if  I  was  there,  sir  ? "  said  Owen, 
desperately. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,"  sobbed  the  wretched  child. 
"  Maybe  you  was,  and  maybe  you  wasn't.  I  don't 
want  to  tell  a  lie !  Oh,  I  don't  know,  truly."  He 
was  trembling  from  head  to  foot 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Mr.  Hewlett,  calling  the 


DOUBLING  A   POINT.  77 

little  culprit  to  him  almost  tenderly.    You  need 
not  answer  for  any  one  but  yourself." 

Never  had  there  been  a  day  of  such  constraint 
and  discomfort,  as  followed  this  unhappy  begin- 
ning. The  lessons  were  difficult,  and  no  leniency 
was  shown  for  any  deficiencies. 

"  Mr.  Howlett  despises  and  distrusts  us  all  to- 
gether," said  Charley,  mournfully.  "I  have  had 
more  black  marks  to-day,  than  in  all  of  the  rest 
of  the  term  put  together." 

When  the  long  day  was  at  last  over,  the  mis- 
erable Owen  once  more  sought  the  desk. 

"  I'd  rather  you'd  give  me  the  worst  punishment 
in  the  world  than  think  I  would  tell  a  lie,"  he 
said  vehemently.  "Wont  you  believe  me,  sir?" 

"  I  have  believed  too  much  already,  said  Mr. 
Howlett,  whose  head  was  aching.  "  I  shall  not 
give  you  another  opportunity  to  laugh  at  my 
credulity." 

•'But  sir,"  said  Owen,  beside  himseif  with  ex- 
citement. "You  are  unjust,  cruel!  You  must, 
• —  you  shall  believe  me ! w 


78  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  Grey/'  said  Mr.  Hewlett  coldly.  "  You  will 
write  out  a  hundred  extra  lines,  as  punishment 
for  you  impertinence ! " 

The  passionate  boy  rushed  from  the  room, 
avoiding  even  the  sympathy  of  Charley,  and  took 
a  long  walk  through  the  city,  before  he  could 
trust  himself  to  go  home. 

As  he  entered  at  last,  weary  and  dispirited,  he 
heard  an  eager  discussion  in  the  sitting-room. 

"  And  couldn't  he  explain  about  the  handker- 
chief?" asked  Honor,  in  such  a  regretful  tone. 

"  No,"  said  Walter,  "  but  really  I  don't  think 
he  was  there." 

"  I  suppose  you  can't  understand  how  he  could 
be,"  said  admiring  Phemie,  "you  are  always  such 
a  gentleman  yourself." 

"  And  Owen  is  too,  I  am  sure,  said  Honor,  with 
generous  warmth.  "  I  am  sorry  he  can't  explain, 
but  I  shall  try  to  believe  him. 

Try  to  believe  him !  How  it  hurt  the  proud 
boy. 

"  You  always  stand  up  for  the  weaker  side, 


DOUBLING  A   POINT.  79 

Honor,"  said  Pheraie,  "but  you  must  acknow- 
ledge it  looks  a  little  strange  that  he  went  out 
after  tea.  You  know  he  never  goes  out,  and  then 
I  didn't  like  his  trying  to  throw  the  blame  on 
Walter"  — 

She  came  to  a  sudden  stop,  as  Owen,  himself, 
walked  proudly  in. 

"The  circumstances  are  very  much  against 
me,  I  confess,"  said  he,  in  a  quick,  nervous  way, 
"but  I  had  hoped  you  would  do  me  justice  here 
at  home.  If  you  cannot  believe  me  without  try- 
ing" he  looked  at  Honor,  "  you  need  not  believe 
me  at  all.  And  "Walter,"  he  turned  to  his  embar- 
rassed cousin,  "if  our  positions  had  been  re- 
versed, I  don't  think  I  should  have  come  home 
in  such  hot  haste  to  tell  of  your  disgrace ! "  And 
without  waiting  for  a  word,  the  excited  boy 
sprang  up  the  stairs,  three  steps  at  a  time,  and 
they  heard  the  turning  of  the  key  in  his  door. 

"Very  high  and  mighty,"  said  Phemie,  who 
was  the  first  to  recover,  "  he  couldn't  have  been 


80  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

grander  if  he  was  the  king  with  a  hundred 
crowns.  "What  a  passion  he  was  in  ! " 

"He  had  some  reason  for  it,"  said  upright 
Honor,  regretfully,  "  but  if  he  had  only  listened 
a  moment,  he  would  have  found  that  Walty,  at 
least,  was  only  saying  good  of  him." 

Poor  Owen  could  not  join  the  party  at  tea,  that 
night.  Proud  and  comfortless  he  sat  alone  all 
the  weary  evening,  working  with  aching  head  at 
his  almost  interminable  task.  Once  only  he  was 
interrupted  by  a  faint  tap,  and,  opening  the  door, 
there  stood  "  Little  Picket"  in  his  night-dress, 
accompanied  by  shaggy  little  Spy. 

f*  I've  come  to  tell  you,  Owen,"  said  the  quaint 
little  figure,  "that  I  can  believe  you  without 
trying." 

Owen  caught  him  up  with  such  a  passionate 
hug,  that  "  Little  Picket"  had  serious  fears  of 
finding  himself  in  two  pieces.  ' 

"  Does  God  know  you  told  the  truth  ? "  said 
the  child,  when  he  could  speak. 


DOUBLING  A  POINT.  81 

"Yes,  he  does  know  it,  Bobby,"  cried  Owen. 

"  Why  then  there's  two  of  us,"  said  "  Little 
Picket,"  with  immense  satisfaction.  "  God  and 
me!" 

Owen  was  a  little  shocked,  bnt  the  innocent 
Picket  meant  no  irreverence. 

"  I  love  you,  Owen,"  continued  the  child,  pleased 
with  his  reception,  "ever  so  much  —  almost  as 
well  as  Walter ! " 

The  straining  arms  relaxed  very  suddenly,  and 
Little  Picket  found  himself  upon  the  floor. 

"  You  don't  want  me  to  love  you  then  ?  "  said 
he,  greatly  discomfited. 

"  Yes  indeed !  "  said  Owen,  kissing  him,  quite 
ashamed  of  his  momentary  feeling,  "but  you 
must  run  away  now,  for  I  am  very  busy.  You 
have  been  a  great  comfort.  There  —  good  night !" 
and  the  Picket  pattered  away  with  Spy  at  his 
heels. 

Owen  went  back  to  his  task,  but  it  was  very 
hard  to  sit  there  with  aching  heart  and  head, 
working,  while  they  were  so  happy  below.  Honor 


82  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

had  begun  to  sing,  —  she  had  the  sweetest  voice 
in  all  the  world,  he  thought,  —  and  he  knew  Wal- 
ter was  turning  the  leaves  of  her  music,  and 
making  himself  so  gentlemanly  and  agreeable. 
How  he  should  enjoy  singing  with  them !  but  no 
one  thought  of  him,  or  if  they  did,  it  was  only  to 
say,  "What  a  pity  he  isn't  more  like  his  cousin !" 

The  work  progressed  but  slowly  with  these  bit- 
ter thoughts  for  a  drag,  and  when  it  was  at  lust 
finished,  Owen  had  no  wish  but  for  rest.  Still 
he  was  not  altogether  unhappy;  Little  Picket's 
simple  question,  "does  God  know?"  came  to  him 
pleasantly  again  and  again,  as  he  prepared  for 
bed ;  and  the  thought  that  everything  was  known 
to  that  tenderest,  most  pitying  Friend,  —  com- 
forted him  greatly. 

When  Walter  came  up  a  little  later,  he  found 
him  in  the  most  peaceful  sleep,  a  half  smile  on 
his  lips,  though  his  eye-lashes  were  still  wet. 

"  He  is  far  nobler  than  I  am,"  he  could  not 
help  acknowledging,  as  he  looked  at  him  remorse- 
fully, "and  happier  too,  for  that  matter.  I 


DOUBLING  A  POINT.  83 

haven't  enjoyed  to  day  overmuch,  that's  certain! 
In  the  first  place,  I  hoped  I  was  afloat,  and  all 
right,  when  Dunk  promised  not  to  betray  us  this 
morning.  Then  out  comes  that  handkerchief, 
which  I  must  have  taken  by  mistake,  and  had  the 
bad  luck  to  drop !  That  was  awkward  enough, 
and  came  near  swamping  us.  But  Fanshawe  is  a 
clever  dog ! "  he  laughed  to  himself,  "  we  doubled 
that  point  neatly.  A  little  tough  for  Owen,  per- 
haps," he  gave  an  uneasy  glance,  "  but  what  could 
we  do !  If  we  had  owned  up,  I  haven't  a  doubt 
that  peppery  old  Hewlett  would  have  expelled  us ! 
He  half  suspects  me  now,  I  think,"  and  troubled 
and  anxious,  Walter  crept  to  his  restless  pillow. 


CHAPTER  V. 
LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERT. 

[INTER  had  passed ;  the  grass  was 
brightening  and  the  trees  —  not  yet 
burst  into  leaf —  seemed  wrapped  in  a 
cloud  of  tender  emerald  mist.  But  Walter  and 
Owen  had  scant  time  to  enjoy  the  spring's  un- 
foldings.  Already  busy  preparation  for  the  sum- 
mer examination  had  begun,  with  the  usual  rival- 
ries. At  the  school,  it  was  universally  conceded, 
that,  leaving  out  Fanshawe,  who  was  cut  off  from 
competition,  —  the  prize  for  highest  scholarship 
would  fall  to  one  of  the  cousins.  Good  Mr.  Hew- 
lett, whose  large  heart,  never  treasured  up  an  in- 
jury, seemed  to  have  entirely  forgotten  the  snow- 
ball episode,  and  nothing  could  be  more  genial 

than  the  almost  fatherly  interest  and  pride  he 
(84) 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCO  VER  r.  85 

took  in  the  young  students.  Towards  Owen, 
especially,  his  manner  was  most  gentle,  as  if  mak- 
ing tacit  acknowledgment  that  he  had  been  too 
hasty  in  his  former  judgment. 

Honor,  also,  in  many  quiet  ways,  had  tried  to 
show  that  her  respect  and  confidence  were  un- 
shaken, till  the  boy's  heart  seemed  ready  to  burst 
with  pride  and  happines.  All  this  he  confided  to 
Walter,  one  day,  in  his  frank,  boyish  way. 

"  And  they  shall  respect  me  still  more  Walty," 
added  he,  excitedly.  "  I  shall  try  for  the  highest 
prizes  in  the  school,  and  I'm  sure  I  shall  win !  I 
feel  it  in  me ! " 

Walter  said  nothing,  but  from  that  time  his 
heart  was  tormented  within  him.  He  knew 
how  Joseph's  brethren  must  have  felt,  when 
they  heard  his  dream ;  "  Shalt  thou  indeed  reign 
over  us  ?"  His  face  was  pale  with  determination. 
How  could  he  ever  look  Honor  in  the  face,  if  he 
took  up  with  a  second  place,  after  all  his  boast- 
ings ?  "  No,  by  fair  means  or  foul,  he  must  main- 
tain his  ascendancy!  But  it  would  be  a  terri- 


86  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

ble  struggle;  Owen  was  such  an  indefatigable 
scholar, — early  and  late  the  beloved  books  were 
in  his  hand. 

It  was  one  Saturday  morning  in  early  May, 
that  Owen,  with  an  effort,  rose  to  leave  the  merry 
party  lingering  at  the  breakfast  table. 

"Why  will  you  be  such  an  everlasting  owl, 
Owen  ?  "  said  Walter,  in  a  tone  whose  fretfulness 
was  scarcely  veiled  by  his  good-breeding. 

"  I'm  slow,  you  know,  Walty,"  said  Owen,  "  the 
*  galvanic  stream'  you  remember,  and  if  it  isn't 
'continuous,  it  can't  accomplish  much,  Mr. 
Knowlson,  said." 

"  Then  I  must  go  too,"  said  Walter,  rising,  with 
a  long  sigh. 

"I  don't  see  why,"  said  Honor,  "I  thought 
you  would  have  time  to  take  a  walk  with  us  this 
lovely  spring  morning.  You  learn  your  lessons 
so  quickly,  you  can  easily  catch  up  when  you 
come  back." 

Owen  winced  a  little,  Honor  looked  so  fair  and 
sweet  that  morning,  with  her  neat  collar,  and 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.  87 

floating  blue  ribbons,  he  wished  she  did  not  think 
him  quite  so  stupid. 

"  I'm  before  all  the  boys  in  school,  Honor,  ex- 
cept Walter,"  said  he  eagerly,  "  and  maybe  I  shall 
astonish  you  yet!  What  would  you  say  if  the 
'  snail'  came  home  with  the  prizes  ?  " 

"  He  should  never  be  called  snail  again,"  said 
Honor,  blushing  and  laughing. 

"  Thank  you,"  and  the  light-hearted  boy  was 
gone  in  a  twinkling,  while  Walter,  irresolute 
and  unhappy,  prepared  for  the  walk  he  dared 
not  refuse.  If  he  could  only  have  mustered  cour- 
age to  confess  his  true  position  —  that  he  would 
have  to  strain  every  nerve  if  he  honorably  kept 
pace  with  Owen's  eager,  active  mind!  But  his 
false  pride  would  not  allow  that,  and  shouldering 
his  burden  of  deceit,  he  went  on  his  way  heavy- 
hearted. 

Two  hours  later  found  him  just  ready  to  be- 
gin the  work  Owen  had  half  finished.  The  calm 
satisfaction  in  his  cousin's  face  fretted  him 
greatly,  and  taking  his  books  he  ran  across  to 


88  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Little  Picket's  room.  Hardly  was  he  comfortably 
settled,  and  absorbed  in  a  most  perplexing  pro- 
position, when  Bobby  himself  was  heard  laboring 
np  the  stairs,  followed  by  Mimi  and  Spy.  A  min- 
ute more,  and  there  was  an  invasion,  and  Little 
Picket  was  uproarious  with  delight  at  finding  his 
favorite  Walter. 

"  We  was  looking  for  you,  Wally,"  said  Mimi. 

"Yes,"  said  Bobby.  "I've  got  something  for 
you,  —  the  first  one  I've  found  this  year ! " 

"  Go  away,  that's  a  good  boy,"  said  Walter,  with 
a  frown. 

But  little  Picket  was  too  much  engaged  to 
notice  that  his  idol's  face  was  not  towards  him  as 
it  had  been  heretofore, 

"  It  is  the  prettiest  one  I  ever  saw,"  continued 
Bobby,  "  spotted  so  regular,  aud  draws  his  little 
legs  up  just  as  cunning !  " 

"  Do  go  away,"  said  Walter,  still  more  testily. 

"  I  wouldn't  give  it  to  any  one  but  you,"  added 
the  unconscious  Picket,  "but  I  love  you,  Wally, 
now  hold  your  hand,  and  shut  your  eyes." 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERT.         89 

"  Will  you  go  then  ?  "  asked  Walter,  longing  to 
kick  them  all  down  stairs. 

"  Yes,  right  away.'' 

Walter  held  out  his  hand  resignedly,  and  Lit- 
tle Picket, — his  face  glowing  with  anticipation 
of  Walters  delight  —  deposited  therein  a  little 
cold,  slimy  toad ! 

"Disgusting,  dirty  child!"  cried  Walter,  fling- 
ing the  unfortunate  toad  out  of  the  window  with 
one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he  gave  Little 
Picket  a  sound  box  on  the  ear. 

If  the  ground  had  opened  at  the  child's  feet 
he  could  not  have  been  more  transfixed  with 
grief  and  amazement !  He  rubbed  his  eyes, 
and  felt  his  little  tingling  ear.  Such  a  diiferent 
reception  he  had  imagined,  and  such  a  dreadful 
surprise  it  was  that  Walter,  —  always  so  polite 
and  smiling  —  who  had  so  flattered  his  little  in- 
nocent vanities,  —  could  have  offered  him  such 
an  indignity!  He  was  too  astonished  to  cry. 

"  Come,  Mimi,"  he  said  briefly,  and  with  burst- 
ing heart,  but  not  without  dignity,  the  outraged 


90  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Little  Picket  left  the  room,  followed  closely  by 
Spy,  with  his  tail  between  his  legs. 

On  the  landing  the  Picket  sat  himself  down 
to  meditate  upon  the  hollowness  of  the  world, 
and  there  Owen  —  going  for  a  dictionary  —  found 
the  downcast  group,  half  an  hour  afterwards. 
His  kind  heart  was  quite  touched  with  this  un- 
usual depth  of  baby  wretchedness,  although  he 
could  not  learn  the  cause,  and  he  suggested  that 
they  should  all  come  up  to  his  room  and  look  at 
some  pictures. 

Distrustful  Little  Picket,  "  sadder  and  wiser," 
had  begun  a  cold  refusal,  but  something  he  saw 
in  the  honest  blue  eyes  leaning  over  him,  caused 
him  to  change  his  mind,  and  accept  the  invitation. 
Owen  made  great  exertions  to  entertain  his  little 
friends,  but  his  efforts  met  with  little  success  with 
pre-occupied  Bobby. 

"  Can't  you  tell  me  what  troubles  you  ?  "  said 
Owen,  coaxingly. 

Mimi  put  her  hand  on  the  one  scarlet  cheek. 
"  He  clapped  Bobby's  ear,"  she  explained. 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.  91 

"Who  did?" 

"Walter!"  cried  Little  Picket,  his  full  heart 
running  over,  as  he  told  the  story  of  his  wrongs, 
finishing  up  by  saying  that  he  should  "  never, 
never  believe  anybody  again,"  and  he  thought  it 
was  a  "  very  sad  world ! " 

Owen  tried  not  to  smile.  "  This  is  an  eclipse, 
certainly,  Little  Picket,"  said  he,  "but  I  don't 
think  the  sun  is  put  out,"  and  putting  his  own 
work  entirely  aside,  with  patient,  cheerful  efforts 
he  gradually  won  the  child  to  a  happier  state  of 
mind. 

Half  an  hour  passed  by,  but  he  had  not  the 
heart  to  send  them  away,  and  he  took  up  his  book 
again,  while  they  amused  themselves  about  the 
room. 

"  Come  here,  Mimi,"  said  Little  Picket,  look- 
ing out  of  the  window,  "  here's  such  a  great,  long 
funeral ! " 

Mimi  looked,  and  sighed  heavily.  "I  don't 
want  a  funal  to  come  after  me,  Bobby,"  said  the 
rosy  baby. 


92  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  0,  how  wicked ! "  said  Little  Picket,  in  a 
shocked  tone.  "  You  don't  want  to  go  to  heaven, 
eh?" 

"  But  funals  don't  go  to  heaven/'  persisted 
Mimi,  "I  know  where  funals  live  —  up  in  the 
Beventery." 

"  You  are  a  queer  little  creature,"  said  the  wise 
Picket,  pityingly;  and  he  proceeded  to  explain 
the  matter,  adding  some  of  his  theological  views, 
of  such  doubtful  and  mixed  orthodoxy,  that  Owen 
could  stand  it  no  longer,  but  burst  into  a  clear 
ringing  laugh. 

"  Seems  to  be  a  very  funny  book  ?  "  said  little 
Picket,  suspiciously. 

"  It  is,"  said  Owen,  trying  to  recover  his  gravity. 
"  But  I  was  quite  unaware  you  had  given  so  much 
attention  to  theology.  Shall  you  study  for  the 
ministry  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,"  said  the  child  complacently.  "  I've 
learned  a  great  many  things  reading  the  Bible 
with  Honor,  though  once  in  a  while  there's  some- 
thing I  don't  quite  understand." 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.  93 

"Is  it  possible!"  said  Owen,  in  pretended 
amazement. 

"  Yes,  really ! "  Little  Picket  drew  near  with  a 
confidential  air.  "  And  there  was  one  thing  this 
morning  I  didn't  exactly  see  into,  but  I  forgot  to 
ask  Honor  about  it." 

"  Perhaps  I  can  help  you,"  said  Owen. 

"  You  won't  laugh,  Honor  never  does." 

Owen  became  a  model  of  gravity. 

•'  Well,  you've  read  about  John  the  Baptist, 
and  how  poor  he  was,  —  bad  to  eat  grasshoppers 
or  something,  —  now,  why  didn't  he  sell  his 
camel's  hair  shawl,  and  get  himself  something 
decent  ?  " 

"John  the  Baptist's  camel's  hair  shawl!"  ex- 
claimed Owen. 

"  Yes,"  said  little  Picket,  in  disgust  at  his  stu- 
pidity. "Wait,  I'll  get  Honor's  Bible,  — we've 
got  a  mark  in  it." 

Little  Picket  was  back  in  a  minute,  reading 
triumpbantly.  "'And  the  same  John  had  his 
raiment  of  camel's  hair ' —  There  now  !  and  you 


94  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

know,  they  say,  Mrs.  Enfield's  cost  more  than  a 
thousand  dollars ! " 

Owen  choked  suddenly,  and  had  quite  a  pain- 
ful fit  of  coughing  behind  his  handkerchief,  be- 
fore he  could  explain  that  the  articles  worn  by 
Mrs.  Enfield,  and  John  the  Baptist,  differed  in 
several  important  particulars. 

Little  Picket  was  much  pleased  with  Owen's 
clearness  in  instructions. 

"  Perhaps  you  could  explain  something  else," 
said  he,  "  that  bothers  Honor  just  as  much  as  it 
does  me." 

"  I  don't  know  about  it,  if  it  bothers  Honor," 
said  Owen,  doubtfully. 

"Well,  now,  just  tell  me  —  do  you  think  we 
shall  eat  up  in  heaven  ?  " 

"  I  never  did  think  so,"  said  Owen,  trying  to 
conduct  the  conversation  with  proper  gravity. 

"I'm  sorry  about  that,"  said  the  child,  "for 
I'm  very  fond  of  eating." 

"  But  you  know  we'll  be  changed  when  we  die, 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.  95 

Bobby,  and  then  I  suppose  we  won't  care  any- 
thing about  eating." 

"  Won't  we  be  changed  like  Jesus  ?  "  said  little 
Picket. 

"  Yes,  I  hope  so." 

"  Then  that's  just  what  bothers  us,  for  Honor 
says  that  Jesus,  after  he  rose,  could  eat  fishes  and 
honey,  and  then  he  went  up  to  heaven  just  as  he 
was." 

"  That's  more  of  a  question  than  I  supposed, 
Bobby,"  said  Owen,  frankly.  "  But  perhaps  he 
wasn't  changed  till  he  went  up  to  his  Father." 

"No,"  said  the  child,  persistently  —  "he  was 
changed  already  —  Honor  says,  after  he  was 
alive  again,  he  could  go  through  doors  without 
opening  them,  and  he  could  vanish  away  all  in  a 
minute." 

"  That  is  very  true,"  said  Owen,  thoughtfully, 
"  but  maybe  he  wasn't  entirely  changed  till  he 
went  up  to  heaven.  I  never  thought  about  it 
before." 

"  But  angels  that  come  right  straight  down 


96  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

from  heaven  can  eat,  Honor  says.  Don't  you 
remember  the  ones  that  came  to  tell  about 
Sodom  ?  " 

0\ven  turned  over  the  Bible  — 

"  Didn't  Abraham  give  them  something  to 
eat.  and  then  didn't  they  go  over,  and  have  some 
bread  in  Lot's  house?"  said  little  Picket,  tri- 
umphantly. 

"  Yes,"  laughed  Owen.  "  You're  a  deep  '  Little 
Picket,'  but  don't  you  think  we  had  better  not 
talk  any  more  about  it  ?  "  he  grew  graver.  "  We 
shall  all  find  out  when  it  is  time  for  us  to 
know." 

"That's  what  mamma  says;  but  I  can't  stop 
thinking  about  it.  Now  Phemie  says  she  knows 
we  can  eat  up  there  if  we  want  to,  but  we  don't 
think  much  of  what  Phemie  says.  She's  such  a 
rattle-head!  Don't  you  think  she's  a  rattle- 
head  ?  " 

"  What  terrible  questions  you  ask,  this  morn- 
ing," -said  Owen,  laughing.  "I  can't  begin  to 
answer  them." 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.          97 

"  You  don't  know  a  great  deal,  do  you  ?  "  said 
little  Picket,  pityingly. 

"Very  little,  but  I  hope  you  won't  tell." 

"Dear  me!"  said  honest  Picket,  "everybody 
knows  it  now!  Phemie  says,  most  every  day, 
that  you'll  never  be  —  never  be  —  well,  I  can't 
just  remember,  but  I  believe  it  was  —  Solomon's 
grandfather ! " 

"  Does  she,  indeed  ? "  said  Owen,  coloring  a 
little,  "  well,  I'm  very  much  obiiged." 

Little  Picket  was  struck  with  sudden  conster- 
nation. "  I've  told  a  story ! "  cried  he,  "  I  promised 
Honor  1  wouldn't  tell  that." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Owen,  kindly,  as  the  child's 
eyes  grew  misty.  "You  didn't  mean  to,  and 
there's  no  harm  done.  You'll  be  more  careful 
next  time." 

"  Do  you  ever  do  mean  things,  Owen  ?" 

"Often!" 

"  And  then  you're  afraid  '  our  Father '  will  be 
angry." 

"Yes,"  said  Owen,  growing  very  grave. 

7 


98  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

^  So  am  I, — just  as  'fraid;  but  Honor  knows 
what  to  do  then.  Look ;  she  wrote  it  in  both  our 
Bibles ;  —  a  very  holy  man  said  it  once.  Eead  it," 
and  he  held  up  the  book. 

Owen  took  it,  and  read  — 

"  If  you  are  afraid  of  God,  fly  to  His  arms ! " 

The  tears  rushed  to  Owen's  eyes.  "That  is 
beautiful!"  said  he.  "May  I  write  it  in  mine  ?w 
Little  Picket  gave  delighted  assent. 

As  he  handed  back  Honor's  Bible,  —  the  child 
said,  hesitating  — 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  to  kiss  it  ?  " 

"  What  for  ?  "  said  Owen,  coloring. 

"Why,  we  kiss  it  almost  every  day  —  me  and 
Honor;  ever  since  one  time,  when  I  told  her  I 
should  like  to  kiss  Jesus  when  I  got  to  heaven, 
.and  she  thought  he'd  be  so  great  and  glorious 
there,  she  didn't  know  whether  she  would  dare 
:ask  him.  Then  I  said  I  should  kiss  something 
that  belonged  to  him  there,  anyway;  and  she 
;asked  me  if  I  wouldn't  like  to  kiss  the  book  that 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERY.  99 

had  his  own  words  in  it  now  ?  So  we  do,  every 
day.  Wouldn't  you  like  to  ?  " 

Owen  kissed  it  reverently,  with  moist  eyes. 

"I  think  I  shall  like  you  very  much,"  said 
Littie  Picket,  looking  on  approvingly.  "  And  I 
hope  you'll  get  the  prize." 

"Thank  you,"  laughed  Owen,  "hut  that  re- 
minds me  I  have  an  hour  or  two  more  to  study  yet 
Don't  you  think  you  had  better  see  to  Spy  and 
Mimi  ?  They've  been  gone  more  than  fifteen  min- 
utes, and  they'll  certainly  be  in  mischief  if  they 
ion't  have  some  steady,  responsible  person  with 
them." 

"That's  true!"  said  Little  Picket,  bustling 
round  for  his  cap. 

"Good  morning,  sir,"  said  Owen,  smilingly, 
lolding  the  door  open.  "  I  have  had  a  most 
interesting  interview  with  you,  sir,  and  I  hope 
see  a  great  deal  more  of  you,  sirl"  —  the 
sincerity  of  which  remark  was  immediately  put 
the  test,  as,  in  half  a  minute,  the  door  re- 
opened, and  the  shining  face  was  again  thrust  in. 


100  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  I  say,  Owen,  I  hope  you're  going  to  get  some 
new  clothes  before  the  exhibition ! " 

"Why?" 

"  'Cause  Phemie  says  she  don't  believe  you've 
had  a  new  coat  since  you  were  five  years  old,  — 
your  arms  stick  out  so  far ;  and  Honor  says  if 
you  only  dressed  as  nice  as  Walter,  she  thinks  you'd 
look  just  as  much  like  a  gentleman  as  he  does." 

Owen's  face  was  crimson  again.  "  Walter  has 
a  great  deal  more  money  to  spend  than  I  have, 
Bobby.  I  would  look  nicer  if  I  could,  and  I  do 
mean  to  have  something  for  examination.  That's 
the  reason  I've  been  going  so  shabby  all  winter." 

"  Hurrah  ! "  said  Little  Picket,  "  won't  Phemie 
stare !  Her  school  is  out  a  week  earlier,  but  she 
says  she  shall  stay  to  see  the  fun.  Hi!  there 
comes  Eddy  Potter  with  his  new  kite  !  "  and  the 
Picket  beat  a  hasty  and  final  retreat. 

It  was  in  vain  that  Walter,  with  bribe  of  a 
brand  new  top,  tried  to  win  back  his  former 
vassal  to  the  old  allegiance.  Little  Picket  de- 
clined the  gift  loftily;  rubbed  his  ear  which 


LITTLE  PICKET'S  DISCOVERT.          101 

seemed  to  be  burning  yet,  and  said  he  "  didn't 
care  for  tops."  A  most  ineffaceable  impression 
had  indeed  been  made  upon  honest,  upright  Little 
Picket,  and  that  night,  there  was  an  earnest  dis- 
cussion in  the  nursery,  from  adjacent  cribs. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Mimi,  I've  made  a  great  dis- 
covery to-day.  Walter  isn't  —  (he  borroVed  one 
of  Phemie's  favorite  phrases,)  — '  isn't  what  fancy 
painted  him  ! ' " 

"  Ith  he  painted  /"  lisped  Mimi,  in  great  surprise. 

Little  Picket  was  disgusted.  "  Dear  me,  no ! 
But  listen  now,  Mimi, — after  this,  you  and  Spy  and 
I,  must  love  Owen  the  best !  In  fact,  now  I  think 
of  it,  Spy  always  did ;  he's  such  a  knowing  fellow ! " 

"  Yeth,"  said  Mimi.  sleepily. 

"  Now  let  me  see  if  you  understand  —  which  do 
you  love  best  —  Walter  or  Owen  ?  " 

"  I  love  —  Owen  —  and  —  Walter ! "  slower  and 
fainter  it  came ;  the  mite  had  dropped  off  to  sleep. 

"  She's  no  company  for  me,  at  all,"  said  the 
profound  Little  Picket,  as,  with  a  heavy  sigh,  he 
followed  her  example. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   BACE. 

WEN,"  said  Walter,  a  few  days  after- 
wards, joining  him  as  they  came  home 
from  school,  a  thing  he  had  seldom 
done  lately,  "  Owen,  I  have  a  great  favor  to  ask 
of  you." 

"  What  is  it  ? "  said  Owen,  looking  up  pleas- 
antly, ready  and  eager  to  oblige. 

"  We  haven't  been  very  good  friends  lately," 
began  Walter,  in  some  embarrassment. 

"  Haven't  we  ?  /  haven't  changed,  Walty." 
"  Well,  then,  I  have  wronged  you ;  the  mean- 
ness has  all  been  on  my  side,"  said  Walter,  with 
a  short  laugh.  "Anyway,  I  haven't  time  to  dis- 
cuss it.  Could  you  do  me  a  very  great  favor,  do 
you  think?" 

(102) 


THE  RACE.  103 

"Try  me!"  said  Owen,  brightly. 

"I  suppose  you'll  think  I've  been  very  ex- 
travagant," said  Walter,  hastily,  "but  the  fact  is, 
I'm  dreadfully  iii  debt.  I've  just  paid  for  my 
new  spring  suit,  because  Mr.  Boardman  won't 
trust  us  school-boys,  you  know ;  and  here's  old 
Larry  has  just  sent  me  a  horrid  bill,  and  says  he 
must  have  fifty  dollars  this  very  night,  or  he'll 
sue  me ! " 

"You  don't  mean  Larry  Pitt,  —  the  man 
that  keeps  the  dirty  oyster  cellar  in  Orange 
Street ! " 

«  Why  don't  I ! "  said  Walter,  irritably. 

"  I  didn't  think  you  would  be  seen  in  such  a 
low  place." 

"  I  haven't  been  there  but  a  few  times.  You 
see,  once  or  twice,  Faushawe  and  I  wanted  to 
give  the  boys  a  treat ;  or  sometimes  we  wanted 
a  glass  of  beer,  or  bite  of  something  ourselves, 
and  Larry  was  always  so  obliging,  and  ready  to 
trust  us !  Who'd  have  thought  he'd  come  down 
in  such  a  rascally  way !  we  don't  owe  half  that 


104  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

amount,  but  then,  you  see,  we  can't  prove  it,  and 
we've  got  to  fork  over,  or  be  jail-birds  ! "  he  tried 
to  laugh  carelessly.  "  It's  doubly  tough  coming 
just  now,  when  I'm  overwhelmed  cramming  for 
the  prizes.  Help  me  just  this  once,  Owny,  and  I 
promise  you  I'll  cut  Larry  dead,  and  be  a  model ! 
See,  if  I  don't!" 

"  How  much  did  you  say  it  was  ?  " 

*  Fifty  dollars,"  said  Walter,  eagerly. 

« That's  about  all  I  have,  Walty,"  said  Owen, 
sorrowfully,  "  and  I've  been  saving  it  so  long  to 
buy  myself  a  decent  suit.  See,  this  is  the  best 
I  have,"  he  held  up  a  shrunken  sleeve,  "  and  the 
boys  are  all  laughing  at  me.  I  suppose  I  oughtn't 
to  care,  but  I  can't  get  above  it  some  way.  I'm 
sure  I  never  can  get  up  before  a  crowded  room, 
and  have  them  all  whispering  and  poking  each 
other." 

"  You  wouldn't  like  to  wear  my  second-best  ?  " 
asked  Walter. 

"They're  a  great  deal  nicer  than  any  I  can 
afford  to  buy ;  but  you  know  I'm  broader  and 


THE  RACE.  105 

taller  than  you.  I  almost  take  a  man's  size.  It 
wouldn't  improve  matters  any." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,"  said  "Walter,  brightening, 
"  I  shall  be  sure  to  have  my  remittance  in  three 
weeks  at  farthest.  That  will  be  time  enough  to 
get  your  suit,  won't  it  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Owen,  desperately.  "  Oh ! 
Walty,  "Walty,  why  did  you  have  anything  to  do 
with  such  a  low,  contemptible  fellow ! " 

"I  might  have  known  I  should  only  get  a 
sermon  for  my  pains,"  said  Walter,  bitterly, 
"but  I  had  no  one  else  to  go  to.  Fanshawe  is 
a  noble  fellow,  but  he's  as  bad  off  as  I  am,  and 
there's  nothing  left  for  us  but  to  go  to  the  Lock- 
up !  It  wouldn't  break  your  heart  though,  I'm 
thinking.  You'd  be  sure  of  the  prizes  then,  and 
at  home  "  — 

"Walter  gave  an  involuntary  scream  of  pain, 
Owen  had  grasped  him  so  tightly  by  the  arm ! 

"  I  can  bear  a  great  deal  from  you,  "Walter," 
said  he,  "  but  when  you  say  a  thing  like  that,  I 
want  to  knock  you  down  ! " 


106  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Walter  began  a  defiant  return,  but  a  glance  at 
Owen's  face,  strangely  pale,  deterred  him. 

"  I  ask  your  pardon,"  said  he,  with  some  slight 
sense  of  shame,  "  but  I've  found  out  so  much 
about  the  meanness  of  the  world  lately,  you 
oughtn't  to  blame  me,  if  I  haven't  a  very  strong 
belief  in  any  one's  generosity.  I  don't  meet  with 
anything  but  deceit,  and  envy,  and  selfishness" — 

"  If  we  meet  no  gods,  it  is  because  we  harbor 
none,"  said  Owen.  The  words  leaped  out  involun- 
tarily. 

"  I  shall  have  to  swallow  the  insult,  as  I'm  not 
strong  enough  to  knock  you  down,"  said  Walter, 
with  flashing  eyes.  "I  am  sorry  to  have  given 
you  so  much  trouble,"  and  turning,  he  walked 
rapidly  in  a  contrary  direction. 

Owen  gazed  after  him  in  wretched  indecision. 

"  And  even  sacrifice  a  little  of  your  own  happi- 
ness for  him ;  can  you  promise  me  that,  my  dear 
son  ?  "  How  vividly  the  words  came  before  him, 
and  was  this  the  way  he  kept  his  promise !  In 
another  moment  he  was  flying  after  Walter. 


THE  RACE.  107 

"  You  shall  have  it  Walty ! "  said  he,  coming 
up,  breathlessly.  "  Come  home  with  me ;  I'll 
give  it  to  you  now." 

At  first,  Walter  proudly  refused,  but  he  soon 
suffered  himself  to  be  persuaded. 

"  You  see,"  said  he,  as  they  reached  home, 
and  Owen,  from  his  shabby  purse,  slowly  counted 
out  the  painful  savings,  "  I  would  have  written 
direct  to  Uncle  Knowlson  ;  but  I've  had  to  make 
two  or  three  extra  appeals  to  him  lately,  and  he's 
getting  to  be  a  terrible  curmudgeon ! " 

"  Then  there  can't  be  much  coming  to  you  this 
quarter  ?"  said  Owen,  with  a  sinking  heart. 

"  Plenty  to  pay  you  ;  never  fear,  old  fellow ! " 
said  Walter,  gayly,  tucking  the  bills  in  his 
pocket.  "  Xow  here's  to  pay  Larry,  and  be  free 
once  more!  You  certainly  are  my  good  angel, 
Owen!  Now  don't  fret;  you  shall  have  it  all 
back  in  time  to  make  yourself  a  perfect  Adonis 
for  the  grand  occasion ! "  and  Walter  was  off, 
whistling  a  lively  air. 

The  three  weeks  passed  rapidly  by,  even  to 


108  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Owen,  who  counted  the  days;  but  nothing  was 
heard  from  Uncle  Knowlson.  Little  Picket 
made  daily  inquiries  for  the  lagging  garments. 
"  You  look  shabbier  than  ever  these  pleasant  sum- 
mer days,"  said  the  outspoken  child ;  and  Owen, — 
more  and  more  conscious  of  his  protruding  wrists, 
and  Phemie's  saucy  eyes,  —  shut  himself  more 
than  ever  in  his  room,  trying  to  forget  his  morti- 
fications in  incessant  study,  and  careful  prepara- 
tion of  his  essay. 

Walter,  well-dressed,  and  in  fine  spirits,  was 
as  much  a  favorite  as  ever,  and  was  always  ready 
to  enter  into  any  of  Honor's  or  Phemie's  merry 
plans,  although  he  announced  that  he  intended 
to  compete  for  every  prize. 

Only  Little  Picket  stood  aloof,  and  viewed  him 
with  a  suspicious  eye. 

"  I  don't  believe  you've  written  your  compo- 
sition," said  he,  one  morning  at  the  breakfast 
table.  "I'll  bet  you  won't  beat  my  Owen  on 
that!" 

"What  a  fierce  little  partisan  you  are!"  said 


THE  RACE.  109 

Walter,  laughing,  with  pretended  good  nature. 
"  I'll  bet  I  have  written  it  now ;  or,  at  least,  it's 
more  than  half  done ! " 

Owen  looked  up  in  surprise.  "  Why,  when  did 
you*  do  it  ?  ' 

"Oh,  at  odd  times,"  said  Walter,  carelessly. 
"  It  isn't  copied  yet,  and  I  shall  spend  one  or  two 
mornings,  polishing  it  up." 

The  red  ribbons  across  the  table,  fluttered. 
Phemie  had  a  rush  of  admiration. 

"1  declare,  Walter,  you  remind  me  more  of 
Shakspeare,  than  any  one  I  ever  knew!" 

"In  what  respect,  Phemie?"  said  Owen,  with 
a  mischievous  twinkle  in  his  eye,  while  Honor's 
face  dimpled  with  merriment. 

But  Phemie,  with  an  offended  toss  of  the  head, 
declined  to  throw  any  light  on  the  subject;  and 
Owen  excused  himself  to  go  to  his  books. 

"I'm  sorry  you  have  to  work  so  hard,"  said 
Honor,  kindly. 

"  I'm  sorry  too,"  added  Phemie,  with  the  slight- 
est shade  of  contempt. 


110  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"You  needn't  pity  me  at  all,"  cried  Owen,  "I 
enjoy  it.  It  is  so  delightful  to  feel  one's  self 
growing !  I  saw  something,  the  other  day,  that 
just  expressed  what  I  have  often  felt.  May 
I  tell  you  Honor  ? "  he  was  looking  in  the  only 
eyes  in  which  he  saw  any  sympathy.  "  A  great 
and  noble  man  said  it,  Honor ;  he  felt  that  all 
effort  after  something  higher,  ennobled  us,  and 
was  better  for  us  in  our  present  state;  and  he 
said  something  like  this  —  'If  God  should  hold 
in  his  right  hand  all  truth,  and  in  his  left  hand 
only  the  ever  active  impulse  after  truth, — I  would 
with  humility  turn  to  his  left  hand,  and  say, — 
Father  give  me  this  I'" 

"And  the  more  fool  he!"  said  Walter. 

"That's  true,"  cried  echo  Phemie.  "Come, 
let's  have  a  '  sing ; '  such  stupid  talk  makes  my 
head  ache ! " 

But  Honor's  sweet  face  was  very  thoughtful — 
"I  don't  know  whether  I  could  have  chosen 
that,  Owen ;  but  those  are  brave,  noble  words. 
Go  and  study ;  it  is  grand  to  be  like  such  a  man ! " 


THE  RACE.  Ill 

So  Owen  went  off  with  a  springing  step,  en- 
tirely oblivious  of  threadbare  garments,  or  Phe- 
mie's  ostentatious  pity. 

But  day  after  day  passed  on,  and  his  enthu- 
siasm had  somewhat  cooled.  The  dreaded  ex- 
amination was  close  at  hand,  and  though  Walter 
had  written  again  and  again,  —  Uncle  Knowl- 
son's  long  delayed  letter  had  not  yet  arrived. 
Owen  had  selected  a  plain  coat  which  had  been 
laid  aside  for  him :  if  the  money  came  at  the  last 
minute,  it  should  still  be  his,  but  alas !  it  did  not 
come,  and  it  was  now  the  eleventh  hour, — the  last 
evening  before  the  eventful  day ! 

Owen,  too  distracted  to  study,  was  trying  to 
read  aloud  to  Honor  and  Phemie ;  but  the  color 
came  and  went  in  his  transparent  face,  and  the 
two  girls  often  looked  up  in  surprise  at  the  emo- 
tion in  his  voice,  at  some  of  the  most  common- 
place passages.  At  last  there  were  hasty  steps ; 
the  door  flew  open.  Owen  threw  down  his  book, 
nervously,  and  went  a  step  or  two  towards  Wal- 
ter, who  had  not  been  seen  since  dinner.  The 


112  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

boy,  with  handsome,  glowing  face,  stood,  holding 
a  boquet  of  expensive  flowers,  in  each  hand,  while 
little  brown  packages  protruded  from  his  vest- 
pockets. 

"Here,  Honor,  Phemie,  I  have  brought  you 
some  flowers  to  carry  to-morrow ;  and  I  saw  such 
pretty  kid  gloves,  laced  on  the  back,  I  brought 
you  each  a  pair ! " 

"  How  generous ! "  cried  both  the  delighted 
girls,  with  voluminous  thanks. 

Owen's  face  cleared.  "The  money  has  come; 
he  has  plenty,"  he  thought;  and  he  pressed  to  his 
side,  with  an  eager  whisper — 

"  Give  me  the  money  quick,  if  you  can,  Walty ; 
I  have  just  time  to  get  down  to  Mr.  Boardman's 
before  he  shuts  up." 

"Walter  flushed  and  hesitated. 

" My  dear  fellow,  it's  a  cruel  disappointment: 
but  that  meanest  of  old  codgers  only  sent  me 
well,  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  when  I  can  ;  "  he 
walked  to  the  table.  "  Look  at  this,  Owen,"  said 
he,  aloud.  "  I  bought  this  for  you"  and  he  un- 


THE  RACE.  11? 

folded  a  flaming  neck-tie,  "  not  your  taste  exactly, 
but  they're  all  the  fashion ! " 

"  Isn't  it  sweet ! "  cried  Phemie,  ecstatically. 

Owen  took  it  mechanically, — looked  at  it  va- 
cantly a  moment — "  It  is  of  no  possible  use  to  me, 
Walter,"  he  said  coldly,  and  laying  it  down,  left 
the  room. 

Walter  was  greatly  embarrassed. 

"What  a  disgraceful  way  of  receiving  a  pre- 
sent!" cried  Phemie,  warmly.  "Now  Honor, 
don't  you  think  he  might,  at  least,  have  pretended 
to  like  it  ?  " 

Honor  gave  reluctant  assent;  she  had  begun 
to  like  Owen  so  much  better,  lately;  but  this  was 
quite  inexcusable.  "  It  was  hard  for  Walty,  cer- 
tainly," said  she,  "  when  he  was  hoping  to  give 
so  much  pleasure." 

Walter  recovered  himself  in  a  moment. 

"  Please  excuse  me,"  said  he,  "  I  do  not  believe 
Owen  feels  well." 

He  easily  caught  up  to  his  cousin's  slow  step 
on  the  stairs.  "  I  want  to  tell  you,  Owen,"  said 


114  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

he,  hurriedly.  "Uncle  Knowlson  was  mean 
enough  to  say  there  wasn't  a  cent  coming  to  me 
this  quarter;  but  he  sent  me  ten  dollars,  and  as 
that  wouldn't  begin  to  pay  you,  I  just  bought 
these  little  trifles,  and  one  or  two  things  I  needed 
desperately  myself.  I  haven't  had  a  decent  pair 
of  gloves  for  a  month ! " 

"  I  couldn't  have  treated  you  so,  "Walty,"  said 
Owen,  simply. 

"How?"  cried  Walter,  in  an  injured  tone, 
"I'm  sure  I've  worried  about  it  day  and  night, 
and  I  felt  worse  than  you,  when  I  only  got  that 
mean  ten  dollars;  that  was  nothing,  you 
know!" 

"  It  would  have  been  a  great  deal  to  me, 
I  had  about  five  dollars  left,  and  fifteen  would 
have  bought  me  a  very  decent  coat;  one  that 
would  have  covered  me,  at  least,"  he  said  bit- 
terly. 

"  Well,  how  was  I  to  know  that  ?  I  did  what 
I  supposed  was  right,  and  I  won't  be  so  badgered 
about  it !  How  I  wish  I  had  never  borrowed  a 


THE  RACE.  115 

cent  of  you!  A  Jew  couldn't  be  harder  with 
me!  You  don't  seem  to  think  anything  of  my 
disappointment;  there's  endless  things  I  shall 
have  to  deny  myself." 

Owen  only  looked  at  him  sorrowfully,  and 
then  without  a  word  left  him  to  his  unenviable 
thoughts. 

Very  long  the  boy  sat  in  the  summer  twilight 
trying  to  decide  whether  he  should  give  up  the 
honors  for  which  he  had  striven  so  long;  or 
whether  he  could  bring  himself  to  face  the  ridi- 
cule of  the  school,  —  to  say  nothing  of  Phemie's 
constant  fire  ?  And  then  Honor,  too,  would  be 
BO  surprised.  He  had  told  her  he  was  saving 
his  fine  feathers  to  astonish  them  all  at  the  last 
minute ;  for  he  could  not  believe  it  possible  that 
he  should  not  have  them.  Well,  he  could  tell 
her  he  was  disappointed ;  she  was  a  sensible  girl ; 
she  would  not  laugh  at  him,  but  he  hoped  she 
wouldn't  pity  him  either;  that  would  be  even 
harder  to  bear !  And  he  thought  he  must  try  to 
go  through  with  it  all ;  for  if  he  stayed  away, 


116  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

they  would  only  think  he  dared  not  stand  the 
test ;  and  he  had  made  such  great  preparation ! 
Perhaps  if  he  brought  home  a  prize  or  two,  no 
one  would  think  about  the  old  coat ! 

Just  then  something  cold  touched  the  listless 
hand  hanging  by  his  side.  He  started;  it  was 
Spy,  and  by  his  side,  in  night-dress,  stood  Little 
Picket,  his  face  so  eloquent  with  sorrowful  sym- 
pathy, that  Owen's  overcharged  heart  could  bear 
no  more.  Before  he  knew  it,  he  was  sobbing, 
while  little  Picket,  in  great  alarm,  cried  aloud, 
and  spared  not,  and  Spy  set  up  a  long  mournful 
whine.  The  utter  despair  of  the  third  perform- 
er, however,  affected  Owen  so  ludicrously,  that, 
with  a  sudden  revulsion,  he  was  soon  laughing 
with  equal  heartiness ;  a  proceeding  which  brought 
immediate  comfort  to  the  minds  of  his  two  com- 
panions. 

"  Have  your  new  clothes  come,  Owny  ? " 
asked  little  Picket,  anxiously,  when  order  was 
restored. 

Owen  shook  his  head,  sorrowfully. 


THE  RACE.  117 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  then  ? "  said  the 
Picket,  severely. 

"Wear  these!" 

The  child  gave  a  tragic  start.  "  Oh,  Owen,  you 
can't  mean  you  are  going  to  wear  those ! " 

"  Oh,  Bobby,  you  can't  mean  that  I  ought  to  go 
in  my  shirt  and  boots ! "  cried  Owen,  imitating 
the  tone  and  manner. 

Hysterics  seemed  imminent  again. 

"Well  then,  if  you  must  wear  them,"  said 
Little  Picket,  with  a  profound  sigh,  "I've  come 
to  tell  you  that  one  of  your  sleeves  is  ripping 
out." 

"  So  it  is,"  cried  Owen,  feeling  of  the  rent,  with 
a  blank  face. 

"And  mamma  is  sick,"  said  the  perplexed 
Little  Picket,  "but  maybe  Honor  could  mend 
it" 

"Oh,  no!"  said  Owen,  decidedly.  "I'm  quite 
a  tailor,  myself,  and  have  a  little  needle-book, 
thread,  and  wax,  and  all.  Come,  now,  go  to  bed ; 
and  I'll  be  all  right  in  the  morning." 


118  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

He  kissed  the  child  tenderly,  patted  Spy,  and 
set  them  outside  the  door. 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  sight  for  Walter,  when 
he  came  up  an  hour  afterwards,  to  see  the  pa- 
tient boy,  toiling  over  the  unfortunate  rent; 
the  big  needle  so  awkwardly  plied,  while  great 
drops  stood  upon  the  white  forehead.  But  no 
words  were  interchanged,  and  Walter,  hastily 
undressing,  threw  himself  upon  the  bed ;  not  to 
sleep,  however.  His  wakeful  eyes  saw  every 
painful  stitch,  and  long  after  the  completed 
garment,  with  many  a  sigh,  had  been  carefully 
brushed,  folded,  and  laid  on  a  chair  by  the  bed, — 
Walter's  conscience  kept  him  restless  and  tossing. 
In  spite  of  all  his  attempts  to  prove  black  white, 
he  could  not  help  thoroughly  despising  himself; 
and  he  could  only  compose  himself,  at  last,  by 
imagining  various  impracticable  ways  by  which  he 
should  try  to  earn  money,  and  pay  Owen  double 
for  all  he  had  lent  him. 

"Here    come    the    two     champions!"    cried 
Honor,  the  next  morning,  as    the  boys  made 


THE  RACE.  119 

their  appearance  at  an  earlier  breakfast  than 
usual.  A  murmur  of  applause  greeted  Walter, 
whose  graceful  figure  showed  to  great  advantage 
in  his  well-fitting  suit  of  light  gray.  Owen  fol- 
lowed him,  very  pale,  except  the  two  little  hectic 
spots  that  betrayed  his  great  excitement,  and  effort 
at  self-control. 

"  Are  you  dressed  to  go?"  exclaimed  Phemie^ 
in  unconcealed  surprise. 

Honor  gave  her  a  warning  look,  and  the  Pick- 
et, looking  hard  in  his  plate,  racked  his  little 
brains  for  some  stinging  sarcasm  to  throw  at  the 
"rattle-head." 

It  was  a  constrained  meal,  for  some  reason, 
and  they  were  all  glad  when  it  was  over,  and 
they  were  preparing  to  start  for  the  scene  of 
action. 

"  Mother  is  so  sorry  she  isn't  well  enough  to 
go,"  said  Honor,  "  but  Phemie  and  I  will  be 
there  in  the  afternoon,  and  we  shall  tell  her  all 
about  it." 

"  Good  luck  to  you,  Walty,"  cried  Phemie,  as 


120  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

the  boys  stood  cap  in  hand.    "  You  look  like  the 
Prince  of  Wales ! " 

Little  Picket  plucked  serrowfnlly  at  Owen's' 
sleeve.  "  Seems  to  me  your  arms  grew  an  inch 
longer  last  night." 

"Seems  just  so  to  me!"  said  Owen,  with  a 
laugh,  merry  for  all. 

And  so  the  two  rivals  were  sped  to  their  race. 

The  exciting  day  passed  rapidly,  and  Owen  and 
Walter,  with  glowing  cheeks,  kept  just  abreast, 
having  distanced  all  other  competitors.  The  two 
cousins  had  scarcely  spoken,  to  each  other,  except 
once,  as  they  were  filing  to  the  last  recitation, 
Owen  pointed  to  a  shred  of  paper,  just  visible  in 
Walter's  clinched  hand. 

"  You  have  no  right  to'  think  that  is  anything 
dishonorable ! "  said  Walter,  angrily. 

"  What  made  you  think  I  did  ?  "  said  Owen, 
quietly;  while  Walter  flushed  with  conscious 
guilt. 

The  recitation  went  on  brilliantly ;  the  honor- 
able committee  nodded  approbation.  Walter's 


THE  RACE.  121 

evil  genius,  Fanshawe,  not  in  the  struggle  him- 
self, was  straining  every  nerve  that  his  friend 
might  win,  and,  sitting  by  his  side,  prompted 
him  continually  with  whispers,  and  cabalistic 
signs.  Charley,  equally  anxious  for  his  friend, 
watched  in  silence,  for  Owen  would  permit  no 
prompting. 

The  race  became  very  exciting  at  last,  for 
gradually  the  committee  had  dropped  the  other 
boys,  and  centered  all  their  fire  upon  the 
cousins.  The  ordeal  was  nearly  passed  when 
at  a  sudden,  unexpected  question,  Owen  hesi- 
tated—  faltered  a  reply;  the  committee  shook 
their  heads.  Not  right  ?  his  face  was  crimson. 
Charley  thrust  something  in  his  hand,  which 
had  been  passed  forward  by  a  sympathizing 
friend. 

"  Look  at  it,  for  heaven's  sake !  my  dear 
fellow !  just  this  once,"  ejaculated  Charley, 
behind  his  handkerchief,  as  he  blew  his  nose 
vigorously. 

There    was    a    dreadful  pause.     Owen  could 


122  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

hear  plainly  the  ticking  of  the  great  clock  in  the 
corner,  could  see  the  bent  heads  of  the  waiting 
committee,  knew  that  every  eye  in  the  large 
school-room  was  fixed  upon  him,  that  Honor 
was  leaning  forward  a  little,  with  parted  lips, — 
and  he  had  only  to  look  modestly  down,  and  hon- 
or and  victory  lay  in  his  hand !  No  !  rather  say 
dishonor,  and  shameful  defeat !  Owen  weighed  it 
all  in  the  short,  sharp  struggle,  and  raising  his 
pale  face,  said  briefly, 

"  I  cannot  answer  it,  sir ! " 

Charley  sank  back  with  a  groan ;  and  there 
was  a  rustle  of  disappointment  throughout  the 
room.  But  there  was  not  a  boy  there,  whose 
quick  eye  witnessed  the  transaction,  who  did  not 
feel  the  moral  grandeur  of  Owen's  act,  and  whose 
heart  did  not  thrill  for  a  moment  with  loftier 
resolve. 

The  question  was  passed  to  Walter,  who  an- 
swered it  with  a  modesty  and  embarrassment  most 
natural  and  creditable,  under  the  circumstances, — 


THE  RACE.  123 

the  reluctance  of  a  foe  too  generous  to  rejoice  in 
his  rival's  defeat. 

Owen  made  no  attempt  to  rally  after  this  mis- 
fortune. There  were  a  few  more  questions,  all 
of  which  Walter  answered ;  and  then  after  a  short 
consultation, — the  committee  made  the  announce- 
ment, already  anticipated,  —  "Walter  Houghton, 
the  prize  for  scholarship ; "  although  they  men- 
tioned Owen  Grey  in  the  warmest  terms  of  com- 
mendation, and  were  kind  enough  to  say,  that  the 
claims  were  so  evenly  balanced,  it  had  been  a  most 
difficult  question  to  decide. 

There  was  great  excitement  among  the  boys, 
and  eager  knots  were  gathering,  before  the  audi- 
ence had  fairly  left  the  room.  Little  Picket  clung 
to  Owen's  hand,  his  great  brown  eyes  fixed  wist- 
fully upon  his  face. 

"  Go  home  with  the  girls,  Bobby,"  said  Owen 
kindly.  "  I  shall  stay,  and  help  trim  the  room 
for  this  evening." 

"  And  you  will  get  the  prize  then,  wont  you, 


124  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Owen  ?     Mamma  says  I  may  come ;  and  it  will 
just  break  my  heart  if," — 

Little  Picket  stopped  suddenly,  to  drink  in, 
with  eager  ears,  an  angry  discussion  at  his  side. 
Charley  Morgan  had  begun  it,  saying  carelessly, 
as  he  leaned  against  the  wall, — 

"  Truth  is  always  on  the  scaffold,  and  wrong, 
upon  the  throne!" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that?"  cried  Fran- 
shawe,  quickly. 

"Is  there  any  objection  to  my  repeating  a 
little  quotation,  that  happened  to  be  running  in 
my  head  ?  "  asked  Charley,  with  an  air  of  innocent 
surprise. 

"Walter  scowled. 

"  I  wonder  how  it  happened  to  be  running  in 
your  head,  Charley?"  said  another  boy  mischiev- 
ously. 

"There's  no  accounting  for  these  things;" 
said  Charley,  in  mock  perplexity,  "  but  all  the 
afternoon,  I've  been  thinking  of  something  that 
happened  when  I  was  a  little  boy  at  school,  in 


THE  RACE.  125 

Bangor.  A  fellow  there,  won  the  first  prize  by 
cheating,  and  after  he  had  been  complimented  and 
patted  on  the  back,  by  the  jolly  green  teacher  and 
trustees,  —  almost  every  boy  in  school  came  up, 
and  presented  his  congratulations  in  the  shape  of 
a  hearty  kick." 

There  was  a  burst  of  applause  at  this,  joined 
in  by  many  a  boy,  who  had  not  been  at  all  above 
suspicion. 

Walter  and  Fanshawe  stood  apart  with  lowering 
faces. 

"What  do  you  suppose  put  all  that  in  my  head  ?  n 
said  Charley,  demurely. 

"  Well,  I'll  help  you  get  something  else  in  your 
head,  you  insulting  puppy!"  cried  Fanshawe, 
throwing  off  his  coat. 

"With  all  my  heart*"  said  Charley,  following 
his  example. 

"  Young  gentlemen  ! "  cried  the  warning  voice 
of  Mr.  Benson,  the  under  teacher ;  and  coming  up, 
he  sternly  ordered  all  to  go  home,  except  the  few 
who  were  to  undertake  the  decorations  of  the  hall. 


126  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Evening  came ;  the  air  was  fragrant  with  the 
aroma  of  pine  and  arbor  vitae.  The  stage  was 
tastefully  draped,  and  brilliant  with  colored  lamps ; 
and  the  hall  was  rapidly  filling  with  gayly  dressed 
people. 

"  There  come  the  prettiest  girls  in  the  city," 
said  Charley  to  Owen,  as  they  peeped  through  a 
slit  in  the  curtain. 

It  was  Honor  and  Phemie,  in  their  cool  white 
dresses,  with  the  pretty  fluttering  ribbons. 

"  Which  do  you  think  is  the  nicest,  Owen  ?  " 

"  Which  do  you  ?  "  returned  Owen,  evasively. 

" '  Sir  Launcelot  mused  a  little  space, 
He  said — she  hath  a  lovely  face !  " 

meaning  Miss  Honor,  of  course,"  laughed  Char- 
ley. 

But  Owen  was  too  excited  to  laugh ;  the  speak- 
ing had  begun,  and  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do 
to  control  his  nervous  agitation.  Dialogue  and 
speech  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession,  and 
at  last  came  the  announcement : 

"  Walter  Houghton,  Original  Declamation." 


THE  RACE.  127 

The  boy,  graceful  and  self-possessed,  sprang 
lightly  upon  the  stage,  bowing  to  right  and  left. 

"What  brass  he  has!"  muttered  Charley, 
discontentedly.  But  his  ill-humor  gradually 
changed  into  surprise,  and  then  positive  admira- 
tion. The  speech  was  brilliant  and  well  written ; 
subject :  "  The  Seven  Senses,"  quite  wittily  han- 
dled, and  ending  with  an  easy  flow  of  words,  as 
follows : 

"Man  is  probably  yet  very  far  from  physical 
perfection.  "We  cannot  tell  how  many  more 
senses  may  be  possible.  As,  for  instance,  the 
sense  of  sight  corresponds  to  light,  so  there  can, 
and  certainly  will  be  special  senses  correspond- 
ing to  electrical  or  magnetic  matter,  by  means 
of  which  we  shall  be  able  to  perceive  imme- 
diately the  electrical  or  magnetic  state  of  bodies, 
which  we  can  discover,  at  present,  only  through 
experiments ;  and  there  will  be  suddenly  opened 
to  us  a  new  world  full  of  most  splendid  phe- 
nomena, of  which  we  can  now  form  as  little  con- 
ception as  a  blind  man  can  of  light  and  colors." 


128  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Then  with  some  slight  allusion  to  clairvoy- 
ance, and  the  possibility  of,  at  some  future  date, 
being  able  to  read  the  mind  of  a  friend  with  as 
much  ease  as  a  page  from  our  favorite  author,  he 
closed,  amid  a  burst  of  applause  and  a  shower  of 
boquets. 

"Too  bad!  too  bad!"  cried  Charley,  "Miss 
Honor  and  Miss  Phemie  have  thrown  both  of 
theirs ;  there  is  none  left  for  you  ! " 

"  That  didn't  sound  quite  like  Walter's 
style,"  said  poor  Owen,  unconsciously  thinking 
aloud. 

"  No  more  it  didn't ! "  cried  Charley.  "  I'd  give 
five  dollars  to  have  that  last  sense  he  spoke  about, 
just  half  a  minute  !  Wouldn't  I  do  a  little  read- 
ing of  somebody's  heart  ?  " 

"  Owen  Grey ; "  announced  Mr.  Hewlett's  metal- 
lic voice. 

Owen  started  nervously.  How  should  he  get 
courage  to  carry  that  coat  on  the  stage ! 

The  thoughtless  smaller  boys,  incited  by  Fan- 
shawe,  were  full  of  rude  jokes,  that  evening. 


THE  RACE.  129 

They  called  him  "Paul  Pry,"  and  "Brother 
Jonathan,"  and  now  at  this  last  dreadful  moment, 
distressed  and  confused  him  cruelly,  by  trying  to 
thrust  an  old  blue  cotton  umbrella  under  his 
arm.  Charley  nearly  shook  the  small  wits  out  of 
a  couple  of  them,  and  Owen,  breaking  away,  went 
desperately  upon  the  stage. 

"Doesn't  his  head  look  splendid!"  whispered 
the  anxious  Picket  to  Phemie,  hoping  to  divert 
her  from  the  coat ;  and  very  winning  indeed  was 
the  pale  face,  with  its  earnest  eyes,  and  firm,  sweet 
mouth. 

The  speech  too,  was  manly,  showing  a  great 
deal  of  earnest  thought  and  careful  prepara- 
tion. The  audience  became  interested,  and  he, 
warmed  with  the  subject,  was  fast  forgetting 
everything  but  his  theme.  His  gestures  became 
more  free;  his  right  arm  was  just  stretched  forth 
in  graceful  sweep,  when  a  voice  issued  from  be- 
hind the  scenes, — 

\ 

"  Mister,  your  coat  is  splitting . " 

The  miserable  Owen  was  paralyzed ;  the  hand 
9 


130  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

dropped  at  his  side,  while  waves  of  vivid  color 
rushed  to  his  hair.  A  few  more  incoherent  words, 
which  nobody  understood,  and  with  an  abrupt 
bow  he  rushed  from  the  stage. 

Only  one  bouquet  greeted  him;  a  huge  mass 
of  tiger  lilies  and  peonies,  launched  by  the  faith- 
ful Picket,  with  a  broken  heart  and  streaming 
eyes. 

Owen  leaned  speechless  against  the  wall, 
while  a  tide  of  angry  words  ebbed  and  flowed 
around  him. 

"How  cruel!  how  base!"  said  Charley,  actually 
crying  with  indignation.  "Mr.  Howlett  shall 
know  this ! " 

"Oh,  don't,  don't!"  sobbed  the  culprit,  Eddy 
Potter.  "  They  told  me  to ! " 

"  Of  course  they  did ! "  cried  Charley  with  un- 
disguised contempt  at  Fanshawe,  whose  malice 
had  gone  farther  than  he  intended. 

The  remaining  exercises  were  soon  concluded, 
i 
and  Walter  was  called  in  to  receive  applause  and 

commendation,  and  have  the  prize  medal  hung 


THE  RACE.  131 

about  his  neck,  while  he  felt  himself  the  meanest 
cur  that  ever  walked  the  earth. 

Fanshawe  and  Walter  were  very  careful  not  to 
linger  after  the  audience  was  dismissed ;  but  Owen, 
overwhelmed  with  his  misfortunes,  his  excitement 
all  gone,  threw  himself  upon  the  platform  steps, 
from  which  it  seemed  as  if  he  would  never  have 
the  heart  to  stir. 

There,  Mr.  Benson  —  going  around  to  put  out 
the  lights  —  found  him,  with  Charley  and  two  or 
three  other  sympathizing  friends. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  said  he,  "  I'm  glad  you  have 
not  gone.  I  wanted  to  tell  you  if  /  had  been 
one  of  that  honorable,  but  extremely  short- 
sighted committee,  to-day,  the  prizes  would  have 
gone  very  diiferently.  I  suspected  some  rascally 
cheating  in  high  places,  but  it  was  skilfully  done, 
and  I  couldn't  find  the  right  moment  to  disclose 
it.  But  don't  be  down-hearted,  my  dear  boy! 
Next  term  the  true  scholar  shall  have  justice, 
if  it  is  in  my  power  to  secure  it,  and  I  think  it 
is!" 


132  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  Hurrah  for  Owen  ! "  shouted  the  warm-hearted 
boys ;  while  Charley  added, — 

"  You  shall  have  a  crown  of  laurels  yet,  heavy 
enough  to  make  your  head  ache!"  and  Owen, 
greatly  consoled  by  this  appreciation  and  generous 
sympathy,  was  strengthened  to  take  up  the  burden 
of  life. 

Very  pleasant  and  bright  looked  the  little 
sitting-room,  when  Owen  at  last  reached  it.  Mrs. 
Whately  had  risen  from  her  bed,  for  the  first  time 
in  a  week,  that  she  might  congratulate  her  two 
boys ;  and  the  table,  whereon  a  tempting  little 
supper  had  been  spread,  was  twinkling  cheerful- 
ness and  comfort  from  its  holiday  array  of  shining 
silver  and  glass. 

"We  were  just  waiting  for  you,  my  dear," 
said  Mrs.  Whately,  holding  out  her  hand. 
"  I  am  very  proud  of  my  boys  to-day ;  both 
of  them  ! "  she  said  with  kindly  emphasis.  Ow- 
en's lip  trembled,  as  he  bent  to  kiss  her  hand. 
"One,  of  course,  must  be  first,  a  mere  trifle 
the  first,"  she  added  anxiously,  looking  into  his 


THE  RACE.  133 

face,  so  strangely  pallid.  "  Can  you  not  yield 
to  your  cousin,  gracefully,  my  dear?  From 
what  I  knew  of  you,  I  thought  you  would  be 
the  first  to  congratulate  him  ?  Can't  you  do  it, 
Owen  ?  " 

He  stood  with  downcast  eyes.  "I  cannot, 
madam ! "  he  said  simply. 

"What  envy!"  exclaimed  Phemie,  in  one  of 
her  perfectly  audible  whispers. 

"  You  are  mistaken ! "  cried  Owen. 

Walter  hastily  interposed.  "  Please  don't  say 
anything  more,  Mrs.  Whately.  We  have  had  a 
misunderstanding;  it  will  be  all  right  after  an 
explanation,"  and  Owen  made  no  attempt  at  con- 
tradiction. 

"  We  will  have  supper  then,"  said  Mrs.  Whately, 
but  her  face  was  sad  and  pained ;  and  the  unhap- 
py Owen  could  not  eat  a  morsel. 

Little  Picket  too, — who  had  been  allowed  to  sit 
up  upon  the  grand  occasion,  contributed  his  share 
to  the  growing  discomfort. 

"Why,  Walter,  what  makes  your  wristbands 


134  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

so  black  ? "  he  suddenly  broke  out,  in  an  inter- 
val of  silence.  "  Have  you  been  in  the  coal- 
bin?" 

Walter  hastily  drew  down  his  coat-sleeve. 

"  What  makes  your  face  so  red  ? "  persisted 
Bobby,  curiously. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  "  said  Walter,  with  an 
uneasy  laugh. 

"  Well,  I  know  what  Honor  said  to  me  once. 
She  said  when  the  blood  was  ashamed  of  a  bad 
heart,  it  always  flew  up  to  the  head ! " 

"  Oh,  Bobby,  how  can  you!"  cried  Honor,  col- 
oring ;  while  little  Picket,  after  making  a  humble 
apology,  was  immediately  dismissed  to  bed  by  his 
mamma. 

"  I  wish  you'd  let  me  tell  a  nice  story,  Charley 
Morgan  told,"  said  the  child,  lingering  in  the 
door. 

Owen  shook  his  head.  "  I  wouldn't  tell  that, 
Bobby!" 

"Well,  if  you  wouldn't,  then  I  won't,"  said 
Bobby.  "  Never  till  you  tell  me." 


THE  RACE.  135 

Owen  soon  after  excused  himself  on  the  plea 
of  headache.  He  thought  Honor  bade  him 
good-night  coldly,  and  he  was  not  mistaken. 
She  had  meant  to  say  a  great  many  pleasant 
and  complimentary  things  to  the  disappointed 
boy,  but  after  his  rudeness  and  want  of  generosity 
to  Walter,  she  felt  that  he  no  longer  deserved 
them. 

"He  isn't  a  bit  like  the  heroes  in  books,  is 
he,  Honor?"  said  Phemie,  when  he  was  gone. 
"  Now  they  always  shake  hands  with  their  rivals, 
and  wish  them  joy,  —  in  a  grand,  proud  way 
to  be  sure,  but  they  do  it,  and  I  think  it's 
splendid ! " 

"  Yes,"  said  Honor,  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  "  it  is 
nobler." 

Alone  in  his  room,  Owen  sadly  reviewed  the 
scenes  of  the  day,  clinging  to  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Benson's  and  Charley's  sympathy,  the  only 
oasis  in  his  desert.  He  was  strangely  wide 
awake;  it  seemed  as  if  he  should  never  sleep 
again.  Perhaps,  reading  awhile  would  compose 


136  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

him,  and  he  raised  his  eyes  listlessly  to  the 
hanging  shelves  that  held  their  small  library. 
A  volume,  he  had  never  noticed  before,  was 
lying  there :  a  strange  old  book,  he  remembered 
having  seen  in  the  bookcase  down  stairs.  He 
took  it  up,  turning  the  pages  wearily,  but  sud- 
denly gave  a  start  as  if  he  had  been  stung! 
Walter's  essay  was  staring  at  him  from  the  yel- 
low page,  almost  word  for  word,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  concluding  paragraphs,  which  he 
must  have  stolen  from  somewhere  else !  Stolen  ! 
Yes,  that  was  the  word.  A  thief  of  thoughts 
is  as  unsound  and  dishonest  at  heart,  as  if  he  stole 
your  watch  or  purse!  Owen  was  too  absorbed  in 
his  discovery  to  hear  steps  entering  the  room. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  said  a  husky  voice. 

"Looking  over  your  essay!"  said  Owen,  "  there 
were  one  or  two  points  I  had  forgotten." 

'•  Do  not  look  at  me  so,"  cried  Walter,  quailing 
beneath  the  stern,  sorrowful  blue  eyes ;  and  cover- 
ing his  face  with  his  hands,  he  burst  into  passion- 
ate tears. 


THE   RACE.  137 

"I  have  never  had  such  an  utterly  wretched 
day  in  my  life,"  he  sobbed.  "I  hate  my 
prizes;"  he  took  off  his  medal,  and  flung  it 
across  the  room.  "I  hate  everything.  Oh 
Owen,  if  you  knew  how  I  had  suffered,  you 
could  not  look  so  coldly  at  me ;  you  would  pity 
me." 

"  I  do  pity  you,"  said  the  boy,  solemnly.  "  It 
has  been  anything  but  a  happy  day  for  me,  but  I 
wouldn't  exchange  with  you  for  worlds." 

"Oh,  Owen,  don't  set  yourself  so  high  and 
grand,  so  far  above  me ; "  said  Walter,  bitterly, 
"  I  have  been  base  and  contemptible ;  see,  I  ac- 
knowledge it,  wont  that  satisfy  you  ?  I've  had 
great  temptations,  dreadful  temptations,  and  I've 
gone  on  little  by  little,  I  don't  know  how  —  I 
never  meant  to  drift  so  far." 

"Drift,  that  is  just  the  word,"  said  Owen, 
thoughtfully.  "  You  seem  to  me  just  like  a 
ship  without  any  rudder,  at  the  mercy  of  every 
wind  and  tide.  And  Oh,  "Walty,  —  forgive  me, 
but  I  must  speak  plain,  —  you  are  drifting  farther 


138  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

and  farther  away  from  everything  that  is  true 
and"— 

"  Don't  lecture  me,  Owny,"  interposed  Walter, 
coaxiugly ;  "  I  will  try  to  do  better,  indeed  I  will. 
Only  help  and  encourage  me  a  little,  and  perhaps 
some  day  I  shall  steer  as  patiently  as  you.  What 
would  be  a  good  rudder  now,  if  you  don't  think 
I've  got  any  ?  " 

"  Honesty  !  "  said  Owen,  briefly. 

Walter  colored,  and  looked  to  see  that  the 
door  was  closed.  "Well,  I'll  try  to  fit  it  on  the 
ship,  if  that  will  satisfy  you,  Owen.  And  you 
will  forgive  me  for  to-day,  won't  you  ?  and  not 
expose  me;  it  wouldn't  do  any  good  now,  you 
know/' 

"  Your  new  rudder  ought  to  carry  you  straight 
to  Mr.  Hewlett,  to  tell  the  whole  story,"  said 
Owen,  with  his  usual  candor. 

Walter  looked  at  him  in  dismay.  "  Why,  Owen, 
you  can't  mean  that  you'd  like  to  see  me  in  such 
disgrace !  Haven't  you  any  pity  ?  You  promised 
once  to  treat  me  like  a  brother ! " 


THE  RACE.  139 

"  At  the  same  time  you  promised  to  make  your 
life  full  of  noble  deeds.  Oh,  Walty  1 " 

"  There  is  time  yet,"  cried  Walter,  eagerly. 
"  You  shall  see !  Only  promise  to  keep  my  secret. 
Don't  you  think  it  is  a  little  selfish  to  want  to 
have  it  known  ?  " 

"Perhaps  I  was  thinking  of  myself,"  said 
honest  Owen,  "though  I  did  not  know  it.  I 
only  thought  it  would  be  better  and  happier  for 
you  to  begin  right.  Oh,  "Walty,  the  truth  is  so 
beautiful !  Did  you  never  think  that  when  we 
love  it,  we  are  loving  Jesus  ?  for  he  said  '  I  am 
the  truth!'" 

"But  will  you  tell 9"  asked  Walter,  anx- 
iously. 

Owen  gave  him  a  sorrowful  glance.  "  The  con- 
fession must  be  yours,  Walter.  It  shall  never  be 
known  through  me." 

Walter  embraced  him  passion ately.  "  You  have 
saved  me,  Owen,"  he  cried.  "This  is  the  hap- 
piest moment  of  the  day !  You  shall  see  what 
my  future  will  be  !  "  and  immediately  the  impul- 


140  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

sive  boy  was  pouring  into  Owen's  patient  ears,  a 
dozen  grand  and  generous  plans. 

Midnight  sounded,  and  still  Walter  sat,  with 
his  head  on  his  hand,  lost  in  pleasant  imaginings. 
It  is  so  easy  and  delightful  to  be  a  hero  in 
dreams ! 

"  Come,"  cried  Owen,  at  last,  from  his  pil- 
low. "  As  long  as  you  can't  begin  any  of  those 
plans  to-night,  suppose  you  go  to  sleep,  and  get 
strength  for  them  to-morrow.  You'll  find  carry- 
ing them  out  in  earnest,  ever  so  much  tougher 
than  just  thinking  them  over.  I  know  by  my- 
self. '  Easier  far  is  pious  reverie,  than  noble 
action!'" 

"  What  a  horrid  wet  blanket  you  are,  Owen  ! " 
said  Walter,  still  good-naturedly;  for  he  felt 
how  much  he  owed  to  the  forbearance  of  his 
cousin. 

Owen  looked  at  him  anxiously.  Walter  had 
passed  so  lightly  over  the  treachery,  which  seemed 
a  grievous  sin  to  him  ;  and  now  wasn't  this  won- 
derful palace  of  good  resolutions  built  upon  the 


THE  RACE.  141 

sand  ?  But  he  spoke  kindly.  "  If  we  wish  truly 
to  be  good  and  great,  Walty,  we  must  beware  of 
our  dreams ;  they  are  such  cheats  and  flatterers, 
and  almost  persuade  us  we  have  been  very  praise- 
worthy, when  we  haven't  taken  the  first  step  for- 
ward. Emerson  says,  '  If  a  man  has  failed,  you 
will  find  he  has  dreamed  instead  of  working,'  and 
I  believe  it  is  true." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FALSE   COLORS. 

j)WEN  had  not  slept  more  than  an 
hour,  when  he  awoke  with  a  feeling  of 
oppression  and  alarm.  At  first  he 
thought  he  was  only  suffering  from  nightmare, 
after  his  day  of  anxiety ;  for  as  he  opened  his 
eyes,  everything  was  quiet,  except  that  the  gentle 
summer  wind  was  just  faintly  stirring  the  cur- 
tains. He  turned,  to  sleep  again,  but  a  strange 
restlessness  had  taken  possession  of  him,  and  at 
last  grew  to  such  uneasiness,  that  he  sprang  from 
his  bed,  and  opened  the  door  into  the  hall.  There, 
to  his  great  alarm,  he  plainly  distinguished  the 
odor  of  smoke,  and  his  quickened  ears  heard  a 
faint  crackling  and  snapping  in  the  direction  of 
the  servants'  rooms.  He  hastily  threw  on  his 
(142) 


FALSE   COLORS.  143 

clothes,  and,  giving  Walter  a  vigorous  shake, 
had  just  reached  the  head  of  the  stairs,  when 
there  was  a  thundering  rap  at  the  door,  and 
a  simultaneous  cry  of  "Fire!  Fire!"  from  with- 
out, taken  up,  and  repeated  by  a  score  of  hoarse 
voices.  Owen  opened  the  door. 

"  The  hack  of  your  house  is  in  flames ! "  said  a 
policeman.  "  Kouse  the  family ;  there  will  not  be 
time  to  save  much  but  your  lives ! " 

But  the  family  were  all  up  now ;  the  servants, 
waking  from  their  heavy  sleep,  stifled  with 
smoke,  and  wild  with  terror,  Phemie  screaming 
and  wringing  her  hands,  Honor,  dressing  Minii 
with  trembling  fingers,  and  assisting  her  mother, 
who,  feeble  from  illness,  was  almost  fainting  by 
the  side  of  the  bed. 

"  Owen,"  cried  Honor,  with  streaming  eyes, 
"  will  you  try  to  save  the  piano,  and  the  pictures, 
and  the  silver'* — 

"  And  carry  down  my  trunk,  do  dear  Owen, 
with  all  my  best  things  —  my  pretty,  pretty 
dresses ! "  sobbed  Phemie,  with  chattering  teeth. 


144  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"Everything  I  can!"  cried  Owen,  rushing 
to  his  cousin's  room.  "  0,  Walter,  I  am  going 
to  help  with  the  furniture;  will  you  see  that 
Bobby  is  dressed  and  safe?  He  was  so  tired, 
poor  little  fellow!  I  don't  believe  he's 'awake 
yet." 

"  Yes,  I'll  see  to  him ;  go  on,"  cried  Walter. 

How  the  cruel,  remorseless  fire  rushed  and 
roared,  and  exulted  over  its  prey.  Only  one 
engine  had  arrived,  and  that  seemed  almost 
powerless.  It  would  soon  be  over,  though 
Owen  tried  in  vain  to  realize  it,  as  he  gave  one 
quick,  farewell  glance  at  the  pretty  sitting 
room,  quiet  and  orderly  yet,  but  so  soon  to  be 
a  blackened,  smoking  ruin!  There  was  no 
time,  however,  for  tender  thoughts.  With  al- 
most superhuman  efforts,  he  tried  to  fulfil  all 
Honor's  requests.  Kind  neighbors  helped,  but 
everything  had  to  be  done  in  such  an  inch  of 
time ! 

Owen  only  caught  sight  of  Walter  once ;  he 
was  carrying  a  bundle  with  his  best  suit,  his 


FALSE  COLORS.  145 

•embroidered  shirt  fronts,  his  new  patent  leather 
boots,  his  handkerchiefs,  pomade  and  perfu- 
mery. 

At  last  came  the  order  for  every  one  to  leave 
the  house ;  and  forth  into  the  crowd  and  confu- 
sion filed,  the  trembling,  weeping  family,  —  leav- 
ing the  dear  home  forever.  Owen  carried  Mimi 
in  his  arms. 

"But  where  is  Bobby?"  asked  Mrs.  "Whately, 
looking  anxiously  around  the  little  flock. 

"  He  must  be  at  some  of  the  neighbors,"  said 
Owen,  beckoning  to  "Walter,  whom  he  saw  at  a 
distance. 

But  just  then  there  was  a  sudden  movement 
in  the  crowd,  Mrs.  Whately  gave  a  thrilling 
scream, — and  following  the  direction  of  every 
eye,  Owen  saw  a  sight  that  made  his  heart 
stand  still.  Little  Picket,  dear,  unconscious 
Little  Picket,  was  leaning  out  of  one  of  the 
upper  windows,  coughing  and  choking  with  the 
smoke,  but  waving  his  handkerchief  merrily  to 

the  crowd  below,  while  with  the  other  hand  he 
10 


146  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Carelessly  caught,  here  and  there,  at  the  shower 
of  burning  cinders.  Two  shaggy  paws  were 
also  visible  in  the  red  light  upon  the  window- 
seat,  and  a  long,  piercing  howl  proved  that  Spy 
appreciated  the  danger,  if  his  little  master  did 
not. 

"  Bring  a  ladder ! "  cried  one. 

"  A  feather  bed !  "  said  another ;  "  and  let  the 
little  one  jump  !  " 

But  Owen  could  not  wait  for  anything,  and 
rushed  towards  the  house. 

"  You  are  mad ! "  cried  a  stout  fireman,  trying 
in  vain  to  detain  him.  "  You  will  never  come 
out  alive ! " 

Walter  also  rushed  up  with  white  lips.  Owen 
gave  him  a  look  of  unutterable  reproach,  as  they 
pressed  forward  together. 

"  Don't  say  one  word !  "  cried  Walter.  "  I 
thought  there  was  plenty  of  time.  I'll  save  him 
yet ! "  and  the  boys  vanished  in  the  smoke. 

"  Three  lives  lost  instead  of  one  !  "  exclaimed 
the  fireman,  as  he  ordered  a  stream  of  water  to  b€»; 


FALSE   COLORS.  147 

thrown  in  the  window,  from  which  Little  Picket 
had  now  disappeared. 

The  boys  reached  the  stairs,  enveloped  in 
horrible  smoke ;  the  flames  were  breaking  through, 
and  already  light,  graceful  wreaths  of  fire  ran  up 
the  baluster. 

"  It  is  certain  death  ! "  groaned  Walter.  "  We 
are  too  late.  Oh,  my  God ! "  and  he  reeled  to- 
wards the  door. 

But  Owen,  with  an  excitement  that  left  no 
room  for  fear,  sprang  up  the  rotten  steps,  and 
reached  the  stifling  room.  The  heat  was  in- 
tense; if  it  had  not  been  for  the  friendly  stream 
which  drenched  him,  he  could  not  have  borne  it 
a  minute.  But  where  was  Little  Picket  ?  The 
child  had  left  the  window,  and,  in  the  thick 
black  smoke  which  blinded  him,  Owen  searched 
in  vain.  His  heart  sickened,  while  his  reeling 
brain  warned  him  to  fly  if  he  meant  to  save  his 
own  life.  Yet  how  could  he  give  up  Little 
Picket,  honest,  faithful  little  friend !  He  groped 
desperately,  —  sharp  pains  darting  through  his 


148  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

head  like  knives,  —  when  suddenly  a  bright  tongue 
of  flame  burst  through  the  floor,  and  the  child 
lay  close  at  his  feet,  with  poor  Spy  tightly  clasped 
in  his  arms. 

The  sight  gave  him  new  life.  He  seized  a 
blanket,  drenched  it  with  water,  wrapped  it 
around  the  senseless  child,  Spy  and  all,  and 
made  a  headlong  rush  for  the  stairs.  But  now 
a  fearful  sight  awaited  him ;  the  landing  had 
become  a  gulf  of  flame,  and,  although  he  was 
a  practised  gymnast,  what  could  he  do  so 
heavily  burdened?  The  only  chance  for  life, 
however,  was  in  making  the  trial ;  and  Owen 
held  his  breath,  shut  his  eyes,  and  jumped! 
The  treacherous  steps  gave  way  — *  the  hot  tongues 
of  fire  leaped  to  his  hair,  —  with  a  last,  desperate 
instinct,  he  tried  to  roll  himself  down  the  stairs, 
and  then  he  knew  no  more! 

But  Walter,  crouching  and  trembling  at  the 
door,  gave  a  shout  of  exultation,  and  snatching 
the  bundle  from  Owen's  arms,  rushed  into  the 


FALSE   COLORS.  149 

street,  while  the  air  was  rent  with  shouts  and 
hurrahs  from  the  excited  crowd ! 

Owen,  in  the  meantime,  was  dragged  out  by 
the  firemen,  and  showered  from  the  engine,  for 
his  clothes  and  hair  were  burning. 

"Noble,  heroic  boy!"  cried  Mrs.  Whately,  with 
white,  trembling  lips,  as  "Walter  laid  Little  Picket 
in  her  arms.  "May  God  reward  you!  I  can 
never  thank  you  enough  ! " 

"I  shall  never  forget  it,"  said  sobbing  Honor, 
putting  both  her  little  hands  in  his. 

Walter  hesitated;  he  had  not  meant  to  de- 
ceive, but  these  praises  and  blessings  were  so 
sweet,  —  must  he  forego  them  all?  Besides, 
hadn't  he  some  right  to  them?  "Wouldn't 
they  both  have  died  if  I  hadn't  been  there  ? " 
he  thought.  "Didn't  I  really  save  Bobby  at 
last,  and  tell  Jim  Doyle  that  Owen  lay  behind 
the  door  ?  But  I  must  not  take  all  the  credit," 
and  with  great  magnanimity,  Walter  said  aloud, — 

"  Owen  had  just  as  much  to  do  with  it  as  I 
did.  We  went  in  together." 


150  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Alas !  what  had  become  of  the  new  rudder  ? 

"  How  generous  he  always  is  ! "  cried  Phemie, 
who,  finding  her  trunk  and  herself  safe,  was 
now  able  to  give  some  thought  to  others.  "  And 
after  Owen  acting  so  unhandsomely  last  night, 
too!" 

But  just  then  the  boy  came  up,  to  receive 
with  blushing  cheeks,  his  share  of  the  praises 
and  thanks.  It  was  very  sweet,  and  yet,  per- 
haps it  was  only  imagination,  but  it  seemed  as 
if  the  voices  took  a  tenderer,  more  grateful 
tone,  when  they  spoke  to  Walter.  Perhaps  it 
was  because  "Walter  had  had  the  great  happiness 
to  lay  Bobby  in  his  mother's  arms ;  and  for  an 
instant  it  seemed  hard  to  Owen  that  he  had  lost 
this  exquisite  moment,  so  hardly  earned.  But 
of  course,  Walter  had  told !  and  then  the  honest 
cheek  burned,  as  he  thought  of  his  selfishness  in 
wishing  to  have  all  his  services  so  fully  known 
and  acknowledged. 

Perhaps  Walter  guessed  what  was  passing  in 
his  mind,  for  he  whispered,  — 


FALSE   COLORS.  151 

"  You  were  lying  helpless  and  senseless  behind 
the  door,  Owen,  and  I  pulled  you  out ;  so  they 
think  it's  a  great  thing,  that's  all ! " 

"Oh,  thank  you,  Walty!"  cried  Owen,  grasp- 
ing  his  hand.  "  I  didn't  remember  anything 
after  that  terrible  jump,  and  I  didn't  know  who 
I  was  indebted  to.  Thank  you  a  thousand 
times ! " 

But  all  these  thanks  were  like  lead  on  Walter's 
heart,  which  grew  heavier  every  minute. 

"  They've  made  up  at  last,  haven't  they, 
Honor?"  whispered  Phemie;  "but  how  could 
Owen  hold  out  any  longer  against  such  gener- 
osity !  If  I  ever  write  a  novel,  Walter  shall  be 
my  hero !  Don't  he  make  you  think  of  the 
Scottish  Chiefs,  Honor?" 

The  next  few  days,  in  spite  of  the  kindness 
of  friends,  were  very  sad  for  the  homeless  little 
family. 

"  If  father  were  only  here ! "  sighed  Honor ; 
"  but  he  won't  even  hear  of  our  troubles,  for 
weeks,  and  perhaps  months ! " 


152  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING 

Day  after  day  was  spent  in  house-hunting; 
but  it  was  a  bad  time  of  the  year,  and  nothing 
could  be  found  that  was  not  either  wretchedly 
small  and  uncomfortable,  or  else  far  beyond  their 
means.  At  last,  in  their  perplexity  and  inde- 
cision, Phemie's  mother  wrote  of  a  pleasant  cot- 
tage, ready  furnished,  that  might  be  rented  for  a 
couple  of  months,  in  their  quiet  little  sea-side 
town.  This  could  only  be  a  temporary  arrange- 
ment, but  it  would  make  a  pleasant  change  for 
all ;  the  children  noisily  urged  it,  and  after  short 
deliberation,  it  was  decided  they  should  go. 

"  I  am  almost  glad  the  fire  happened,  aren't 
you,  Honor?"  said  the  jubilant  Little  Picket, 
the  night  before  their  departure.  Honor's  eyes 
filled.  "  Oh,  I  forgot !  you  lost  so  many  things,  — 
papa's  letters,  and  your  pretty  ring,  and  Dicky  in 
his  cage,  and  0,  so  many  nice  things.  Do  you 
think  God  will  ever  forgive  Margot  for  carrying 
that  candle  into  the  store-room  ?  " 

"I  hope  so,"  said  Honor,  smiling.  "Poor 
Margot  feels  worse  than  any  of  us.  But  we 


FALSE   COLORS.  153 

mustn't  fret  about  it  now;  we  have  so  many 
things  to  make  us  happy.  Just  think  if  you  " — 
she  could  go  no  farther,  but  caught  him  in  her 
arms,  and  almost  smothered  him  with  kisses. 

Little  Picket  freed  himself  as  soon  as  possible. 
"  Don't  you  think  I  am  'most  too  old  to  be  kissed 
that  way,  Honor  ?  It  does  very  well  for  Mimi, 
but"  — 

Honor  laughed  merrily.  "  Well,  I  will  try  to 
remember  what  a  dignified  old  gentleman  it  is ; 
but  there's  something  I  want  you  to  promise  me, 
and  that  is,  that  you  will  try  to  be  a  little  kinder 
and  more  grateful  to  Walter,  who  saved  your  life, 
you  know.  Why,  a  little  grizzly  bear  could  teach 
you  manners ! " 

"  I  know  it,  Honor,"  said  the  Picket,  sorrow- 
fully, "  but  it  always  seems  as  if  it  was  Owen  that 
came  and  caught  me  out  of  the  horrible  fire. 
Maybe  I  dreamed  it ;  but  0,  I'd  so  much  rather 
have  it  Owen,  you  can't  think ! "  Bobby  was 
almost  crying.  "  And  so  would  Spy,  wouldn't 
you,  old  fellow  ?  "  Spy  barked,  and  wagged  his 


154  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

tail.  "  How  I  wish  he  could  speak,"  sighed  Little 
Picket;  "and  then  perhaps  I  could  find  out. 
Owen  won't  talk  about  it  at  all.  Now  don't  be 
angry,  Honor,"  he  said,  as  she  turned  down  the 
light,  and  prepared  to  leave  the  room.  '•'  We'll 
try  to  do  what  you  want  us  to." 

"  We  ?  "  said  Honor. 

"  Why,  me  and  Spy,  you  know.  If  being  grate- 
ful means  carrying  his  bag,  or  his  shawl,  or  run- 
ning errands  for  him,  —  we'll  try  to  do  it." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Honor,  patting  his  round 
cheeks,  while  she  assured  him  she  hadn't  a  doubt 
that  "me  and  Spy"  would  do  everything  that 
was  fair  and  honorable. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HIGH   TIDE. 

|HE  two  months  at  the  seaside  passed 
most  swiftly  and  delightfully.  Mrs. 
Whately  rapidly  gained  strength,  and 
the  younger  faces,  round  and  sunburnt,  looked, 
Walter  said,  like  a  row  of  thriving  pumpkins. 

Every  minute  had  been  enjoyed.  They  had 
bathed  and  played  games  in  the  surf  till  they 
were  as  much  at  home  as  the  dolphins,  or  mer- 
maids. They  had  constructed  wonderful  aqua- 
riums; and  each  had  a  book  of  crimson  and 
green  sea-mosses,  lying  on  the  white  pages,  more 
delicate  and  perfect  than  the  most  exquisite 
painting. 

Yery  unwelcome  news  it  was,  then,  that  met 
them  one  morning  at  the  breakfast  table.    Mr. 
(155) 


156  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Enfield  had  found  them  a  house  in  the  city,  and 
they  could  take  immediate  possession.  Besides, 
the  family,  of  whom  they  had  rented  the  little 
cottage,  was  now  anxious  to  return,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  no  reasonable  excuse  for  their  linger- 
ing. 

"  Too  bad ! "  said  Walter,  the  last  morning  of 
their  stay,  as  he  leaned  from  the  window,  and 
watched  the  distant  waves  rolling  in,  —  bathed  in 
sunlight,  —  a  sea  of  molten  gold.  "I  am  not  at 
all  reconciled  to  going.  How  can  I  leave  my 
'  kingdom  by  the  sea ! ' ' 

"  Our  brain  kingdom  will  need  a  little  attention 
in  a  few  days ;  I  have  had  a  circular  to  that  effect 
from  our  Prime  Minister,"  said  Owen,  dolefully, 
holding  out  a  letter  from  Mr.  Hewlett. 

"  Pshaw ! "  cried  Walter,  turning  away  his 
head.  "  I  won't  look  at  it !  Let's  forget  for  one 
more  long,  splendid  day,  that  there's  such  a  thing 
as  work  or  study  in  the  world !  Let's  take  our 
dinners,  and  our  pails  for  mosses,  and  spend  the 
whole  day  on  the  sands." 


BIGH  TIDE.  157 

"Let's!"  said  Phemie,  jumping,  and  clapping 
her  hands. 

"  Agreed  ! "  cried  all  the  rest. 

Short  space  was  spent  in  preparation,  and  soon 
the  chattering  group  was  ready;  but  now  arose  a 
dilemma!  Little  Mimi,  in  shaker  hat,  carrying 
her  own  minute  pail,  was  found  to  have  added 
herself  to  the  party.  In  vain  they  coaxed  her  to 
return ;  such  speechless  grief  quivered  at  the  baby 
mouth,  that  Honor's  heart  was  touched.  She 
looked  around  inquiringly.  "  She  is  very  tough," 
said  she,  "  she  can  walk  almost  as  far  as  any  of  us, 
and  she  will  be  so  inexpressibly  happy ! " 

"  She  will  be  a  dreadful  bother !  "  said  Phemie, 
and  Walter  looked  disapprobation. 

The  eloquence  of  the  child's  pitiful  glance  from 
friend  to  foe,  was  irresistible. 

"  I'll  take  care  of  her  myself,"  cried  Owen. 
"Run,  Picket,  and  tell  mamma!"  and  so  the 
whole  party  set  forth,  with  Mimi  in  a  state  of 
beatitude. 

It  was  too  lovely  a  day  for  any  one  to  cherish 


158  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

feelings  of  vexation  or  ill-humor,  long,  and 
Phemie,  so  far  from  being  annoyed  at  Mimi's 
presence,  was  actually  entertained  by  her  funny 
baby  prattle,  till  in  a  moment  of  enthusiasm,  she 
cried,  — 

"  Oh,  you  dear,  flaxen-haired  little  sun- 
beam ! " 

Owen  turned  quickly  with  his  most  quizzical 
look.  "  There's  a  fact  worth  remembering,"  said 
he,  gravely.  "  I've  seen  a  great  many  sunbeams, 
but  I  never  heard  before  that  they  had  flaxen 
hair!" 

Phemie  blushed  and  pouted. 

"  You  mustn't  expect  Owen  to  have  patience 
with  anything  poetical  or  imaginative,  Phemie/' 
said  Walter,  "  he  can't  understand  it." 

Owen  demurely  acknowledged  his  deficiencies. 
"  But  I  should  like  very  much  to  acquire  a  little 
imagination,"  said  he.  "  Our  Bridget  is  a  red- 
haired  comet !  — how's  that  now  ?  " 

The  light-hearted  party  shouted  with  laughter, 
especially  Little  Picket,  who  had  but  the  vaguest 


HIGH  TIDE.  159 

idea  of  the  joke.  But  Phemie,  too  wise  to  show 
any  pique,  nevertheless  put  down  another  black 
mark  in  the  account  she  kept  against  Owen,  and 
when  the  time  of  reckoning  came,  the  idle  words 
were  balanced  with  very  heavy  consequences. 

For  it  so  happened  that  when  the  long,  merry 
day  was  almost  over,  the  last  crumb  vanished  from 
the  dinner  baskets,  and  the  little  pails  almost 
filled,  —  Owen  unfortunately  spoke  of  going  home, 
and  Phemie  felt  she  must  sustain  her  dignity  by 
violently  opposing  the  measure. 

"There  is  such  a  splendid  place  for  mosses, 
just  a  little  farther  on,"  said  she.  "Just  around 
the  corner  of  that  rock,  Walter,  I  wonder  I  didn't 
think  of  it  before ;  we  used  to  go  there  often  last 


year 


\» 


"  But  Mimi  is  tired,  and  it  must  be  almost  tea 
time,"  objected  Owen. 

But  the  more  he  opposed,  the  more  vehemently 
Phemie  insisted,  and  Walter  and  Honor  at  last 
joined  in,  saying, 

"  It  is  our  last  walk,  you  know." 


160  DRTFTIXG  AND  STEERING. 

So  Phemie,  with  a  triumphant  glance  at  Owen, 
—  in  helpless  minority,  —  led  the  way;  and  he 
followed,  carrying  Mimi  in  his  strong  arms. 

Phemie  had  told  the  truth;  the  mosses  did 
seem  to  be  brighter  and  rarer,  and  throwing 
away  their  old  specimens,  they  became  so  inter- 
ested in  their  new  search,  that  an  hour  passed  as 
if  it  had  been  five  mimites.  A  little  cry  from 
Mimi,  aroused  Owen. 

"The  water  is  chasing  me!"  said  she,  run- 
ning to  him  with  outstretched  arms.  "  My  foots 
is  wet!" 

"  The  water  will  be  chasing  us  all  pretty 
soon,"  said  Owen,  "the  tide  is  coming  in;  we 
must  go  farther  back  ; "  but  turning,  he  noticed 
for  the  first  time,  that  the  shore  was  of  a  very 
different  character  from  that  where  they  had 
usually  been.  Instead  of  gradually  sloping  in- 
land, so  that  they  could  easily  retreat  at  any 
time,  there  was  a  line  of  precipitous  rocks  rising 
behind  them ;  and  Owen  saw,  with  some  alarm, 
that  the  strip  between  them  and  the  sea  was 


HIGH  TIDE.  161 

already  very  narrow,  and  would  probably  soon  be 
covered. 

"Walter!  Honor!"  he  cried,  lifting  Mimi, 
"we  haven't  a  minute  to  lose;  the  tide  is  coming 
in,  and  we  can't  back  out  here !  We  must  run  for 
the  rock  we  came  around  a  little  while  ago ! n 

The  children  laughed  merrily.  They  weren't  a 
bit  tired,  and  it  was  a  capital  idea  to  end  up  with 
a  race! 

"  You  cannot  be  too  quick ! "  said  Owen,  grow- 
ing more  anxious,  as  he  seized  the  lagging  Little 
Picket  by  the  hand. 

On  they  sped,  surprised  that  they  had  wan- 
dered so  far.  One  more  point  to  turn,  and  the 
goal  would  be  in  sight  Suddenly  the  eager 
party  in  front  stopped,  with  a  cry  of  dismay;  the 
water  had  already  reached  the  jutting  rock,  in- 
deed, was  breaking  angrily  upon  it,  in  waves 
almost  as  high  as  their  head. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ? "  cried  Phemie,  deeply 
regretting  her  obstinacy. 

"  Eun  the  other  way,  as  fast  as  we  cap. ! "  cried 
11 


162  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Walter.  "  Perhaps  there  is  some  outlet  the  other 
end,"  and  back  flew  the  panting,  tired  children ; 
Owen's  arms  aching  with  stout  little  Mimi,  and 
his  progress  greatly  hindered  by  dragging  foot- 
sore Picket. 

But  they  did  not  go  far.  Walter,  who  was  in 
advance,  turned,  —  white  to  the  very  lips. 

"  It  is  worse  this  way  than  the  other !  Phemie, 
you  have  brought  us  into  a  trap ! " 

Phemie  wrung  her  hands,  and  looked  wildly 
around. 

"  Could  you  swim  around  the  point,  do  you 
think,  Owen?"  asked  Walter,  anxiously.  "/ 
should  be  dashed  against  the  rock,  I'm  afraid ; 
but  you  are  stronger.  If  you  only  could,  and 
could  get  some  one  to  come  with  a  surf-boat ! " 

"I  don't  think  I  could,  Wai  ty,"  said  he,  sor- 
rowfully. Just  see  how  it  is  dashing  in !  And 
even  if  it  were  possible,  you  would  all  be  beyond 
help  long  before  I  could  reach  you  again ; "  he 
pointed  to  the  few  feet  of  sand  left  for  standing- 
room. 


HIGH  TIDE.  163 

"  Not  drowned,  Oweii ! "  shrieked  Phemie,  "  you 
can't  mean  that  we  are  going  to  be  drowned  !  " 

Owen  did  not  answer;  his  keen,  eager  eye  was 
searching  the  face  of  the  cliffs. 

"  My  Owen  will  not  let  you  drown,  Phemie," 
said  Little  Picket,  with  the  calmest  confidence ; 
while  Walter,  even  at  this  anxious  moment,  felt  a 
jealous  thrill  lest  Owen  should  take  too  much  the 
precedence. 

"  I  will  save  you,  if  it  is  a  possible  thing,"  he 
said,  grandly,  to  Phemie  and  Honor;  and  hastily 
joined  Owen. 

"Do  you  see  that  depression  up  there,  about 
six  or  seven  feet,  —  almost  a  little  cave  ?  "  said 
Owen.  "  If  we  could  only  get  there,  —  I  don't 
know  how  high  the  tide  will  come,  —  but  there's 
a  chance  we  might  be  saved ! " 

A  gleam  of  hope  lighted  Walter's  eye;  and  he 
turned  quickly  to  the  weeping  group.  "  Fol- 
low me,"  he  said  magnificently,  leading  them  to 
the  foot  of  the  rock,  while  Owen  followed  with  a 
faint  smile. 


164  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  Give  me  all  your  handkerchiefs ! "  was  the 
next  command,  which  they  eagerly  obeyed,  and 
"Walter  knotted  them  together,  sighing  over 
Phemie's  and  Honor's  that  they  were  so  small  and 
thin ;  but  the  rope  wasn't  half  long  enough,  and 
couldn't  bear  the  weight  of  Spy. 

"Quick,  give  me  your  stockings,"  he  cried, 
but  Owen  had  already  taken  off  his  coat,  cut  it 
in  strips,  tied  it  in  sailor  knots,  and  would  have 
clambered  up  the  rock  with  it,  if  Walter  had  not 
snatched  it  from  his  hand,  and  catching  at  a  root 
here,  and  a  twig  there,  lightly  swung  himself 
upon  the  ledge. 

"Well  done,"  cried  the  unselfish  Owen,  "now 
lower  your  rope,  quick !" 

It  was  indeed  time,  for  the  waves  were  already 
dashing  over  their  feet. 

"  Who  will  walk  the  perpendicular  first  ? " 
asked  Owen,  cheerily. 

"  Let  me,"  sobbed  Phemie,  "  I'm  so  short." 

"Yes,"  cried  Honor;  while  Little  Picket,  his 
eyes  fixed  on  Owen's  face,  neither  spoke  nor  stirred. 


HIGH  TIDE.  165 

It  was  quite  a  difficult  feat  for  Phemie,  even  with 
the  help  of  the  rope,  for  the  cliff  was  smooth,  and 
straight  as  a  wall,  and  she  fell  back  two  or  three 
times  with  screams  of  despair,  before  she  was  at 
last  safely  landed. 

"  We  must  work  faster  than  this,"  said  Owen, 
anxiously;  but  Walter  was  leaning  panting  and 
breathless  against  the  rock. 

"I  must  go  up  myself,"  said  Owen,  "but 
•what  shall  I  do  with  Mimi  ?  I  must  have  both 
hands  to  climb.  Oh,  if  we  had  only  left  her  at 
home ! " 

He  thought  for  a  moment  desperately,  and  then 
put  the  baby  pick-a-back. 

"  Cling  tight  around  my  neck,  now,  Mimi, 
tight,  or  you'll  fall  into  the  dreadful  water!" 
The  child  clung  with  desperation. 

For  the  first  time  Little  Picket's  heart  quailed. 

"Are  you  going  to  leave  me,  Owny?"  The 
water  dashed  almost  to  his  waist. 

"Yes,"  said  Owen,  sharply.  "Let  go  my 
hand,  quick!"  and  the  clinging  fingers  relaxed 


166  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

obediently,  though  ill  that  moment  Little  Picket 
felt  the  bitterness  of  death. 

"  They  are  safe ! "  cried  Honor,  after  a  breath- 
less interval,  and  her  lips  moved  in  silent 
prayer. 

"  Now,  Little  Picket,"  cried  Owen,  looking  over 
encouragingly,  and  the  delighted  child  sprang, 
nimble  as  a  monkey,  and  was  pulled  in,  with  the 
wretched  Spy  strapped  to  his  back  with  the  dis- 
carded handkerchiefs. 

"  A  long  pull,  and  a  strong  pull,  and  a  pull  all 
together!"  cried  Owen,  laughing,  and  Honor, 
blushing  and  panting,  stood  beside  them,  and 
they  were  all  embracing,  and  laughing,  and  crying 
together. 

"  I  thought  it  couldn't  be  that  we  should  have 
to  die  in  such  a  dreadful  way,"  sobbed  Phemie, 
"  and  all  the  world  so  beautiful,  and  green  fields 
and  flowers  such  a  little  way  off,  and  mamma 
just  seeing  about  tea,  and,  maybe,  going  to  have 
warm  gingerbread ! " 

There  was  a  shout  of  laughter  at  this  climax, 


HIGH  TIDE.  167 

"but  Phemie  was  in  no  state  to  take  exceptions  to 
anything  now. 

"  What  a  grand  thing  it  is  to  be  strong. 
How  much  we  owe  to  you!"  said  Honor,  looking 
admiringly  at  Owen's  broad  shoulders. 

"I  told  you  my  Owen  would  save  us,"  cried 
Little  Picket,  with  an  adorning  glance. 

Utter  wretchedness  gnawed  at  "Walter's  heart. 

"And  we  are  equally  indebted  to  you,  Walty, 
perhaps  more,"  whispered  Honor,  quickly.  "  What 
would  have  become  of  us  if  your  sharp  eyes  hadn't 
discovered  this  shelf! " 

Perhaps  Walter  was  intending  to  set  her  right, 
but  Little  Picket's  shrill  voice  broke  in. 

"Oughtn't  somebody  to  thank  'Our  Father' 
for  making  this  nice  little  place  for  us,  so  we 
needn't  be  drowned  ?  " 

Walter  immediately  was  busily  engaged  with 
some  object  far  out  at  sea.  The  fact  was,  he 
had  been  trying  very  hard  lately,  to  forget  there 
was  a  God ;  and  now,  when  in  their  peril,  they 
had  almost  stood  face  to  face  with  Him,  and  it 


168  DRIFTIXG  AXD  STEERIXG. 

seemed  as  if  his  voice  was  calling  them  so  impres- 
sively in  the  cool  of  the  day, — Walter  only  wanted 
to  hide. 

"  Why  don't  somebody  ?  "  urged  Bobby,  and 
Owen,  coloring  a  little,  knelt  and  offered  a  simple, 
fervent  thanksgiving. 

Every  eye  was  wet,  as  they  arose. 

"  We  might  sing,  *  Blessing  and  honor,'  too, 
Bobby,"  said  his  sister. 

"  Oh,  will  you !  "  said  the  child,  eagerly,  "  will 
you  all  sing  ?  " 

They  nodded  assent,  and  the  tremulous  voices, 
gradually  growing  stronger,  chanted  solemnly, 

"  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power  be 
unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
the  Lamb." 

"Isn't  it  great,"  cried  Little  Picket.  «We 
sing  it  almost  every  day,  me  and  Honor,  be- 
cause it's  so  nice  to  know  something  they  sing  up 
in  heaven.  Honor  thinks  maybe  we  haven't  got 
the  same  tune,  but  we'll  learn  the  new  one  in  two 


HIGH  TIDE.  169 

minutes  when  we  get  there ;  we  learn  tunes  just 
as  easy." 

"  Let  us  sing  it  again  ? "  said  Owen,  with  a 
bright  smile ;  and  again  the  beautiful  chant  of 
praise  arose,  mingled  with  the  solemn  under- 
tone of  the  sea.  The  last  sweet  echoes  died 
away,  and  no  one  seemed  inclined  to  break  the 
silence. 

Owen  sat  down,  taking  little  tired  Him!  upon 
his  lap,  where  she  soon  fell  asleep  from  utter 
weariness.  Little  Picket,  clinging  to  one  firm 
hand,  crouched  by  his  side,  and  the  rest  dis- 
posed themselves  with  what  comfort  they  could. 
The  short  twilight  of  late  summer  was  rapidly 
deepening  into  night,  and  hunger,  weariness,  and 
wet  garments  produced  a  growing  sense  of  dis- 
comfort which  gradually  triumphed  over  their  late 
joyful  mood.  Two  or  three  hours  passed. 

"  How  long  shall  we  have  to  stay  here,  Owen  ?  " 
said  Phemie,  wearily. 

"  I'm  afraid,  till  the  tide  goes  out." 

"  And  what  will  become  of  our  poor  mothers  ?  " 


170  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

said  Honor,  bursting  into  tears.  "They  will 
think  we  are  all  lost." 

"  That's  the  worst  of  it,"  said  Walter. 

But  Owen  did  not  know  whether  that  was 
the  "  worst  of  it ; "  he  had  lately  been  seized 
with  a  new  fear,  as  he  watched  the  "  cruel 
crawling  foam."  He  remembered,  too,  that 
it  was  the  night  after  the  full  moon,  when 
sailors  told  him,  the  tide  was  always  higher,  but 
he  tried  bravely  to  keep  his  anxieties  to  himself, 
and  not  alarm  the  weary  group  unnecessarily. 
But  he  could  not  spare  them  long.  His  restless 
eye  saw  a  wave  afar  off,  towering  crested  above  its 
fellows. 

"  On  your  feet,  quick ! "  he  cried  to  the  loung- 
ing group;  and  the  order  was  scarcely  obeyed, 
when  the  wave  came  dashing  over  their  ankles. 

Blank  terror  looked  from  every  face. 

"  Then  we  are  to  die,  after  all,"  gasped  Honor. 

"  Must  we,  my  Owen  ? "  said  Little  Picket, 
straining  his  eyes  to  see  his  face. 

"I  cannot  tell.     We  must  pray,  pray  every 


HIGH   TIDE.  171 

minute,  Bobby.  Perhaps  that  is  the  highest  we 
shall  have,"  said  he,  as  six  or  seven  now  broke 
without  touching  them. 

But  no ;  there  was  another  coming  like  a  black 
mountain,  high  and  threatening ;  Owen  tightened 
his  hold  on  Little  Picket's  hand. 

"  That  was  higher,"  said  Walter,  in  a  strange, 
unnatural  voice,  as  the  wave  broke,  and  receded. 
"It  is  gaining  on  us." 

A  little  wail  arose  from  Phemie. 

The  waves  came  on  steadily,  gradually  higher 
and  higher.  Little  Picket  was  drenched  with 
spray. 

"Couldn't  you  hold  him  np  a  little,  when  a 
wave  comes,  Walty  ?  " 

"I  can?t  but  just  hold  myself,  Owen,"  said 
Walter,  bitterly.  "  We  should  only  go  together ! " 

"  Help  me  to  fasten  this  rope  then,"  said  Owen, 
and  in  an  interval  of  quieter  waves,  they  stretched 
the  rope  across  the  group,  fastening  it  to  the 
tough  twig  on  one  side,  and  forcing  it  into  some 
fissures  in  the  rock,  on  the  other. 


172  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  There,"  cried  Owen,  cheerily.  "  Let  every 
one  take  hold,  but  don't  pull  on  it,  unless  you 
feel  that  you  are  carried  off  your  feet.  Now 
Walter,  the  next  heavy  one,  brace  yourself 
firmly,  and  lift  poor  Bobby,  I  know  you  can 
weather  it" 

Walter  looked  around  uneasily.  Phemie,  whose 
small  wits  had  long  since  deserted  her,  was  cling- 
ing with  a  last  instinct  to  Honor,  who  with  up- 
lifted face  seemed  absorbed  in  prayer.  They, 
neither  of  them,  were  noticing  anything. 

"  Lift  him,"  repeated  Owen,  sharply. 

"  He  must  drop  that  dog,  then." 

"I  won't/'  cried  Bobby,  indignantly,  clinging 
tighter  to  poor  Spy,  who  pitifully  licked  his  little 
master's  face.  "  You  needn't  help  me."  . 

"  Will  you  lose  both  of  our  lives  for  the  sake  of 
a  dog  ?  "  cried  Walter,  angrily,  trying  to  unloose 
his  fingers. 

Bobby  stooped  to  escape  him,  and  in  that  mo- 
ment, a  heavy  wave  came  dashing  in.  A  piercing 
scream  made  every  heart  stand  still. 


HIGH  TIDE.  173 

"  Speak  quick,"  cried  agonized  Owen,  blinded 
with  spray,  "  Bobby,  where's  Bobby  ?  " 

"  Gone,"  cried  Walter,  in  a  hoarse  voice,  "  I 
couldn't  hold  him." 

But  before  he  began  to  speak,  Owen  had  felt 
the  rope  tighten.  God  was  good. 

Little  Picket  had  caught  it  desperately,  and 
now  came  struggling  back,  choking  and  strang- 
ling. 

Honor  passionately  grasped  one  little  icy 
hand.  "  Oh  thank  God ;  thank  God ;  "  she  cried. 

"But  Spy,"  sobbed  Bobby,  as  soon  as  he 
could  speak,  pointing  to  a  dim  speck,  floating 
out  to  sea.  "  Oh,  I  let  him  go  right  out  of  my 
arms,  Owen ;  do  you  see  how  I  could ;  Oh,  my 
dear,  dear  Spy ;  he  didn't  think  I  could  let  him 
go,  and  I  didn't  mean  to  !  Oh,  Owen,  don't  you 
suppose  he  knows  I  didn't  mean  to  ?  "  said  Little 
Picket,  in  an  agony. 

The  tears  were  in  Owen's  eyes.  "  I'm  sure  he 
knew  it,"  said  he,  soothingly.  "You  couldn't 
catch  the  rope,  and  hold  him  too." 


174  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  But  you  are  safe,"  cried  Honor,  kissing  him 
again,  with  a  clinging  embrace. 

"  Safe  for  fifteen  minutes  longer,  perhaps,"  said 
Owen,  solemnly;  and  only  convulsive  sobs  an- 
swered him. 

"Can't  you  lift  me,  my  Owen?"  said  Little 
Picket,  in  a  miserably  shaky  voice,  as  another 
threatening  wave  appeared.  "  It  is  so  much  worse 
to  drown  than  I  thought;  but  I'll  stand  right 
here,  if  you  say  so." 

"  I'll  try,"  said  Owen,  and  with  a  great  effort 
he  raised  him  to  his  shoulder.  "Cling  to  my 
neck,  Bobby,  my  arm  is  so  stiff  and  tired,  I  can't 
trust  it." 

Walter  pressed  up  close  to  his  cousin.  "  I 
cannot  die,  Owen  !  Oh,  I  cannot !  cannot !  What 
shall  I  do  ?  "  and  he  moaned  and  prayed  incohe- 
rently; all  his  pride,  and  care  for  appearances, 
lost  in  this  encounter  with  the  last,  dreadful  foe. 

For  the  rest,  all  was  silent;  for  happy  Mimi 
still  slept.  Phemie  had  grown  almost  idiotic 
with  fright,  and  Honor  was  thinking,  shudder- 


HIGH  TIDE.  175 

ingly,  of  the  morning,  when  perhaps  five  limp, 
helpless  forms,  with  sea-weed  in  their  hair,  would 
be  drifting  in  upon  the  beach,  as  they  did  after 
the  wreck  Phemie  had  told  her  about 

But  the  worst  was  now  over,  although  the 
drenched,  stupefied  children  did  not  perceive  it 
for  a  long  time.  The  waves  were  subsiding,  but 
not  until  the  harmless  ripples  were  stealing  only 
to  their  feet,  did  Owen  at  last,  realize  it. 

"  Hurrah ! "  shouted  he  deliriously,  "  We  are 
safe !  we  are  safe ! " 

The  electrified  party  roused  as  if  from  a  fear- 
ful dream,  and  Honor,  in  the  great  revulsion 
of  feeling,  caught  his  hand,  and  eagerly  kissed 
it. 

Walter's  jealousies  revived  with  returning 
life.  "  She  shall  not  like  him  the  best,"  he  said, 
determinedly,  to  himself,  —  and  immediately  re- 
lieved from  the  oppression  of  his  terrible  fear, 
he  was  very  officious  in  plans  for  their  comfort 
He  took  off  his  coat,  wrung  it,  and  folded  it 
up.  Honor  must  sit  on  that  for  a  cushion,  and 


176  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

he  would  hold  Phemie,  himself,  they  must  not  sit 
on  the  hard  rock. 

Owen,  in  the  meantime,  had  sunk  down,  with  a 
groan  of  weariness  he  could  not  repress,  laying 
Mimi  across  his  knees.  Even  his  great  strength 
had  deserted  him  at  last.  He  thanked  God  it  had 
lasted  just  long  enough. 

The  first  burst  of  thankfulness  and  relief 
being  over,  Walter,  anxious  to  recover  the 
laurels  he  feared  he  had  lost,  made  a  great  effort 
to  be  lively  and  entertaining.  He  proposed 
story-telling,  as  they  couldn't  sleep,  but  after 
contributing  a  brace  of  lively  anecdotes,  which 
were  received  with  faint  appreciation,  he  was 
greatly  mortified  to  find  no  one  inclined  to  follow. 

"  What  makes  you  so  stupid,  Owen  ?  "  he  cried, 
angrily. 

"  We  are  not  all  made  alike,  Walty,"  said  Owen, 
quietly.  "  Every  tree  has  not  the  same  bark,  you 
know." 

"  But  you  can  tell  us  something  to  pass  away 
the  time,"  urged  Walter. 


HIGH  TIDE.  177 

"Not  just  yet,"  said  Owen,  in  a  low  tone,  "I 
have  been  too  near  the  other  world,  "Walter,  to 
take  such  a  jump  back  into  this,  all  in  a  minute. 
I  cannot  talk  now." 

"  I  did  not  think  you  were  so  easily  un- 
nerved ! "  said  Walter,  angry  at  the  tacit 
reproach ;  but,  even  in  the  dim  light,  he 
colored  beneath  his  cousin's  honest,  sorrowful 
gaze. 

"  I'm  sure  I  was  terribly  frightened  myself," 
said  kindly  Honor,  "  and  I  thought  Owen  was  the 
bravest  of  us  all." 

"  And  Walter  was  the  biggest  cry-baby!"  said 
Little  Picket,  fiercely. 

"Hush!  Hush!  "cried  Owen,  quickly.  "It 
was  a  fearful  time,  and  no  one  need  be  ashamed 
to  own  that  he  was  frightened.  I  believe  I  was 
more  afraid  than  any  of  you,  but  we  had  different 
ways  of  showing  it  Don't  let  us  ever  speak  of 
that  again." 

Little   Picket  shut  his  mouth  like  an  oyster, 

putting  his  hand  timidly  again  into  Owen's,  and 
12 


178  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

feeling  greatly  reassured  when  he  received  a 
gentle  pressure. 

In  the  meantime  the  whole  town  had  been 
out,  searching  along  the  beach  for  the  missing 
children.  Little  pails,  filled  with  sea-mosses, 
had  drifted  in,  and  been  recognized  with  cries  of 
dismay ;  but,  as  yet,  no  one  dared  to  tell  the 
frantic  mothers. 

"Would  it  be  possible,"  said  one  good 
woman  to  her  husband,  "  that  they  could  have 
gone  around  the  rock?  Get  the  surf-boat, 
quick ! " 

He  shook  his  head  dolefully.  "  If  they  went 
there  they  are  lost,  for  that  narrow  bit  of  sand 
was  covered  an  hour  ago." 

The  woman  covered  her  face  with  her  apron. 
There  was  no  sleep  in  the  town  that  night.  Every 
father  was  engaged  in  the  search,  and  every 
mother's  heart  was  aching. 

As  soon  as  the  tide  had  sufficiently  receded, 
in  the  earliest  gray  of  morning,  —  a  sad  party 
rounded  the  point,  searching  for  traces  of  the 


HIGH  TIDE.  179 

poor  drowned  children.  As  they  wandered 
mournfully  along,  —  picking  up  now  a  battered 
hat,  and  now  a  stray  glove,  saddest  proofs  of  the 
fearful  fate  of  their  owners,  they  were  shocked 
and  startled  at  a  sudden  sound  of  chattering  and 
laughing  in  the  rocks  above  their  heads.  They 
looked  up  in  bewilderment,  and  there  were  the 
happy  children,  grouped  safely  together  like  so 
many  birds  in  their  strange  nest. 

Such  hurrahs,  as  rent  the  air!  They  were 
heard  beyond  the  point,  and  men,  women,  and 
children  came  pouring  around,  shouting  and 
crying  for  joy.  The  heroes  and  heroines  were 
helped  from  their  perch,  and  —  too  stiff  and 
tired  to  walk  —  were  borne  home  in  triumph 
on  the  crossed  hands  of  the  warm-hearted  vil- 
lagers. Then  a  dozen  old  nurses,  and  skilful 
dames,  took  possession  of  them.  There  was 
no  use  to  resist ;  even  Owen  —  go  proud  of  his 
strength  —  was  hustled  into  bed  like  a  baby, 
and  plied  with  warm  herb-tea,  till  he  begged  for 
quarter. 


180  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Mrs.  Whately,  who  had  lain  in  happy  uncon- 
sciousness for  hours,  was  yet  too  weak  to  come 
to  embrace  them;  but  Phemie's  mother  had 
kissed  and  wept  over  each  one  a  dozen  times,  and 
was  beginning  on  the  thirteenth  round,  when 
Walter  announced  that  he  believed  he  "  could  eat 
a  roast  baby." 

"  Perhaps  this  would  do  as  well,"  said  a  smiling 
old  nurse,  bringing  in  a  steaming  tray,  dispensing 
most  appetizing  odors. 

"  Was  there  ever  anything  so  delicious  ?  "  ex- 
claimed Walter.  "  This  is  never  Bridget's  cook- 
ing." 

"  Never,"  cried  Owen,  ecstatically.  "  Professor 
Blot  must  have  come  all  the  way  from  New  York, 
on  purpose  to  get  it  up  for  us." 

Honor  laughed  merrily  from  her  cot  in  the 
next  room.  "Did  you  never  hear,"  said  she, 
"  that  Hunger  is  the  best  cook  in  the  world  ? 
Professor  Blot  would  give  a  fortune  for  the  recipe 
of  one  of  her  sauces." 

So   they  rattled   on.      Certainly  the  happiest 


HIGH  TIDE.  181 

people  in  all  the  world,  that  lovely  sunshiny 
morning,  were  in  that  little  sea-side  cottage. 
Owen,  looking  through  his  window  at  the  laugh- 
ing, blue  sea,  could  hardly  recognize  his  relentless 
foe  of  a  few  hours  ago.  It  already  began  to  seem 
to  them  all  like  a  dreadful  dream,  although  their 
aching  limbs  asserted  their  reality,  and  they  were 
very  glad  to  lie  in  their  beds  all  that  day,  and  the 
next.  Owen,  indeed,  the  strongest  of  all,  suffered 
the  most,  and  was  threatened  with  brain  fever,  for 
several  days.  So  that  it  was  quite  a  fortnight, 
before  they  were  all  sufficiently  restored  to  bear 
the  fatigues  of  moving  back  to  the  city. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AN  ILL  WIND. 

HEY  had  been  settled  a  week  in  their 
new  home,  which,  though  smaller  than 
the  one  they  had  lost,  and  rather  too 
far  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  was  still  very  cosey 
and  comfortable. 

School  was  to  open  in  a  few  days,  and  Owen 
was  full  of  eager  anticipations  for  the  coming 
year.  He  should  be  more  unsparing  of  himself 
than  ever,  and  nothing  should  prevent  his  sweep- 
ing everything  before  him. 

He  had  been  taking  a  brisk  walk  with  Charley 
Morgan,  one  afternoon,  and  they  had  been 
exchanging  young,  enthusiastic  views  of  life. 
They  were  so  full  of  hope  and  energy;  they 
meant  that  the  world  should  be  better  for  their 
082) 


AN  ILL   WIND.  183 

having  lived.  They  were  not  afraid  of  work  ;  and 
they  shook  hands  impulsively  as  one  declared  he 
would  rather  "  wear  out,  than  run  out,"  and  the 
other  hoped  he  would  "  die  in  the  harness." 

"  It  is  so  much  to  be  thankful  for,  Charley, 
that  we  can  have  a  liberal  education,''  said 
Owen.  "  It's  rather  a  tough  pull  for  me,  to  be 
sure,  but  I  shall  manage  it,  I  guess,  by  looking 
as  if  I  were  the  heir  of  an  '  old  clo's '  peddler,"  he 
laughed.  "  But  I  shan't  mind  that,  if  I  get  the 
education.  Success  in  everything  seems  so  much 
surer  when  you  have  such  a  splendid  foundation 
to  stand  upon." 

"That's  true,"  said  Charley.  "Education  is 
certainly  a  spring-board  (as  I  think  somebody  else 
has  said  before  me),  that  helps  one  take  a  great 
deal  higher  jumps  in  the  world !  " 

They  were  coming  near  home  now,  and,  Little 
Picket,  —  running  out  to  meet  them,  —  caught 
the  last  words. 

"Who's  going  to  make  such  a  big  jump?" 
said  the  child. 


184  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"Owen,"  said  Charley;  "he  thinks  he  can 
do  anything.  Wouldn't  it  be  dreadful,"  he 
added,  gravely,  "  if  he  grew  too  ambitious,  like 
the  old  cow  who  jumped  over  the  moon,  and 
had  to  leave  both  her  horns  behind  her,  as  you 
can  see  this  very  night ; "  he  pointed  to  the 
silver  tips  of  the  young  moon,  just  visible  in  the 
violet  sky. 

Little  Picket  looked  greatly  mystified.  "I'm 
not  a  bit  frightened,"  said  Owen,  laughing.  "  All 
I  can  say,  is,  that  such  a  disposition  of  her  horns 
must  have  been  eminently  satisfactory  to  a  cow 
of  such  high  aspirations." 

"  There  is  no  use  in  trying  to  warn  him,"  said 
Charley,  in  comical  despair.  "  He  will  not  spare 
himself." 

"No,"  said  Owen,  more  gravely,  "  I  should  not 
be  satisfied  unless  I  were  doing  my  very  utmost. 
Let  me  tell  you  something  I  saw  the  other  day, — 
I  liked  it  so  much,  —  I  knew  it,  after  reading  it 
once. 


AN  ILL  WIND.  185 

"  Good,  to  be  wafted  down  the  stream, 
In  a  gilded  bark  with  silken  sails, 
Under  the  shadows  of  stately  trees, 
Fanned  by  the  breath  of  scented  gales. 

Better,  to  breast  the  angry  waves, 

Up  to  the  lips  in  their  icy  roll ! 
Sinewy  strength  at  its  utmost  strain, 

Eager  eyes  on  the  distant  goal ! " 

They  were  standing  by  the  stoop,  as  Owen 
repeated  the  words,  with  glowing  cheeks.  As 
he  finished,  "Walter's  head  appeared  at  an  open 
window. 

"'Better'  belongs  to  the  first  verse,  Owen," 
said  he.  "  That's  just  the  difference  between 
us." 

"  Yes,"  repeated  Charley,  in  a  low  tone.  "  That's 
just  the  difference  between  you." 

As  the  two  boys  were  going  to  bed  that  night, 
"Walter  drew  a  letter  from  his  pocket. 

"  I  declare  if  I  haven't  carried  Uncle  Knowl- 
son's  precious  epistle  all  day,  and  forgot  to  open 
it !  I  hope  the  old  gentleman  has  grown  a  little 
more  reasonable,  and  sent  me  something  hand- 


186  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

some,  this  time.  I  shall  try  to  pay  you  something 
on  that  fifty  dollars,  and"  — 

Walter  ceased  suddenly,  and  sat  like  one  stupe- 
fied, with  such  an  expression  of  utter  wretched- 
ness, that  Owen  was  alarmed. 

"What  is  it,  Walty?"  said  he,  affectionately. 
Walter  mechanically  held  out  the  letter. 

It  was  from  Uncle  Knowlson,  a  broken- 
hearted, incoherent  jumble  of  words.  He  humbly 
asked  forgiveness  of  his  dear  boy ;  he  had  thought 
he  was  doing  the  best  thing,  and  had  put  his 
money  in  an  investment,  which  promised  so 
much ;  he  had  anticipated  giving  Walter  such  a 
delightful  surprise,  the  property  was  to  have  been 
doubled,  at  least;  but  rogues,  sharpers  —  whom 
may  the  Lord  forgive  —  had  robbed  him  of  every- 
thing ;  all  his  own  and  Walter's  too.  They  were 
wretched  paupers.  He  could  bear  it  for  himself, 
but  the  thought  of  his  poor  ruined  boy  was  kill- 
ing him.  He  was  now  lying  helpless  upon  a  sick 
bed,  but  if  the  merciful  Lord  would  hear  the 
prayer  he  sent  up  night  and  day,  and  give  him 


AN  ILL  WIND.  187 

strength  once  more,  he  should  work  like  a  dog 
till  his  dear  boy  had  his  own,  once  more.  Would 
Walter  try  to  believe  he  had  meant  it  all  for  the 
best,  and  write  just  one  word  to  say  he  forgave 
him? 

This  letter,  written  in  a  strange  hand,  was 
signed  in  trembling  hieroglyphics  — 

"Your  most  afflicted  Uncle  Knowlson  ;"  and 
the  stranger  had  added : 

"  This  misfortune  has  broken  his  heart.  The 
physicians  say  he  can  live  but  a  few  days  longer." 

Owen's  eyes  filled  with  tears.  "Poor,  poor, 
Uncle  Knowlson,"  said  he,  tenderly. 

"  Poor  Uncle  Kuowlson,"  cried  Walter,  bitterly. 
"You  haven't  a  thought  for  me!  What  does 
it  matter  to  him  ?  He  has  had  enough  all  his 
long  life,  and  now  he'll  die  before  he  knows  what 
want  means.  But  I,  —  with  everything  just  open- 
ing before  me,  —  to  be  so  crushed  down,  ground 
into  the  dust!  Horrid  old  man;  credulous, 
idiotic  old  fool,"  said  he,  passionately.  "  Forgive 
him  ?  I  never  will ! "  he  sobbed  aloud. 


188  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Owen  stood  aghast  It  was  indeed  a  ter- 
rible misfortune.  No  one  knew  better  than  he, 
how  almost  unendurable  it  would  be  to  Walter. 
What  would  he  do  without  his  fine  broadcloths, 
cut  in  the  latest  fashion,  his  gloves,  which  he 
bought  by  the  box-full,  his  scented  soaps  and 
pomades  ?  for  he  had  grown  more  fastidious  than 
ever,  lately.  And  then,  oh,  worst  of  all,  would  he 
have  to  give  up  his  education?  Was  there  no 
one  to  help  ? 

Owen's  mind  ran  rapidly  over  their  short  list 
of  relatives,  but  there  was  not  one,  who  could 
more  than  keep  his  own  head  above  water. 
Uncle  Knowlson  had  been  the  only  one  of  prop- 
erty, and  now  everything  was  swept  away. 
His  own  scanty  fund  occurred  to  him.  It  might 
board  them  both,  and  get  them  the  simplest, 
garments ;  but  then  he,  too,  must  give  up  his 
dearest  dreams,  and  what  would  life  be,  swept 
bare  of  all  hope  and  ambition !  Owen  trembled 
like  a  leaf,  and  sat  down.  Ought  he  to  make  such 
a  sacrifice  ? 


AN  ILL  WIND.  189 

"I  am  not  fit  to  work,"  moaned  Walter, 
looking  at  his  white  hands,  piteously.  "  There 
is  nothing  left  for  me  in  life ;  I  wish  I  was 
dead ! " 

"Oh,  hush,"  cried  Owen;  "you  don't  wish 
anything  of  the  kind ! " 

"  Oh,  you've  found  your  voice  at  last,  when 
there  was  a  chance  to  preach.  I  thought  you 
were  never  going  to  speak  again.  Tell  me,  what 
shall  I  do  ?  " 

Owen  opened  his  dry  lips,  but  he  couldn't 
speak  yet.  A  terrible  struggle  was  going  on  in 
his  breast. 

"  Oh,  well,  I'll  spare  you  the  trouble  of  giving 
unpleasant  advice;  I  suppose  you  think  I  can 
work  on  the  wharves  somewhere,  in  a  red  flannel 
shirt;  and  maybe  you,  and  Honor,  and  Phemie, 
will  come  down  once  in  a  while,  and  throw  me 
a  bit  of  money,  or  leave  me  a  tract  on  con  fun  t- 
ment ! " 

"  Poor  "Walty,"  cried  Owen,  kneeling  by 
him  alfectionately.  "You  don't  know  what 


190  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

you  are  saying.  I  am  not  going  to  leave  you 
to  struggle  alone ;  half  that  I  have  is  yours ; " 
for  the  generous  heart  could  see  no  other  pos- 
sible course.  "  We  will  bear  this  trouble  to- 
gether." 

"  And  all  you  have,  would  hardly  keep 
Bobby  in  peanuts  and  marbles ! "  said  Walter,  un- 
graciously. 

Owen  colored  at  such  a  reception  of  the  offer- 
ing so  costly  for  him ;  but  after  a  minute,  he 
spoke  quietly  again. 

"  We  could  board  on  that,  certainly,  Wal- 
ter, and  then  I  shall  try  to  get  a  place  as  clerk 
somewhere." 

A  dim  sense  of  Owen's  nobility  penetrated  even 
that  selfish  heart. 

"  And  give  up  your  education  ?  "  said  he,  doubt- 
fully. 

"  No,  I  couldn't  do  that,  —  put  it  off  a  year 
or  two,  perhaps.  I  shall  be  the  greatest  miser, 
and  save  everything  I  can,  till  I  have  enough  to 
go  on  again.  And  why  can't  you  do  the  same  ?  " 


AN  ILL  WIND.  191 

said  he,  eagerly.  "  Come,  we  will  not  be  con- 
quered. We  will  be  perfect  encyclopedias  of 
learning  yet ! " 

Walter's  gloomy  face  brightened  a  little. 

"  It  is  a  bargain  then,"  said  generous  Owen. 

Walter  hesitated.  "  But  I  shall  never  hear  the 
end  of  your  great  sacrifice,"  said  he,  fretfully. 
"  Evexy  one  will  be  praising  you,  and  thinking  I'm 
so  mean  to  accept  so  much  from  you.  No,  I  can't 
bear  it,  I'd  rather  die ! " 

"  But  you  can't  die,  just  now,"  said  Owen,  a 
little  impatiently.  "  Suppose  we  keep  the 
arrangement  to  ourselves;  it  is  nobody's  busi- 
ness but  our  own.  Will  that  suit  you  any  bet- 
ter?" 

"  What  will  we  say  to  people  then  ?  "  said  Wal- 
ter, reviving  a  little. 

"  We  can  tell  them  we  have  had  a  pecuniary 
misfortune.  We  can  certainly  say  *  we,'  for  I 
share  it  equally  with  you ;  and  we  have  made  up 
our  minds  to  put  off  our  studies  a  little  while, 
till  our  affairs  look  a  little  more  promising." 


192  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"That  will  do,"  cried  Walter.  "You  are  a 
good  fellow,  Owen.  Thank  you." 

"The  bargain  isn't  quite  completed,"  said 
Owen.  "  I  won't  sign  the  articles,  till  you 
write  Uncle  Knowlson  that  you  have  forgiven 
him." 

"  I  never  will ! "  cried  Walter,  all  his  bitterness 
returning. 

"  Then  you  must  find  some  other  plan  for  get- 
ting over  your  difficulties,"  said  Owen,  dryly, 
turning  away. 

"  I'll  write  it,"  cried  Walter,  desperately. 
"  I  am  in  your  power.  I  see  I  am  to  be  your 
slave  after  this,  ready  to  fall  on  my  face  when 
you  nod." 

Owen  paid  no  attention  to  this  ill-humor,  but 
placed  the  paper  before  him,  and  Walter  dashed 
off  a  few  curt,  cold  words. 

"  That  will  not  do,"  said  Owen,  tearing  it  up. 
"It  would  be  the  poor  old  gentleman's  death 
wound.  Try  again." 

Walter  fretted  and  chafed,  but  in  the  end,  he 


AN  ILL  WIND.  193 

wrote  another,  —  the  inexorable  Owen  dictating 
every  word. 

Poor,  unfortunate  Uncle  Knowlson;  his  last 
hours  were  made  almost  happy  by  that  simple, 
tender  expression  of  sympathy  and  full  forgiveness. 

"  Now  shall  we  draw  up  our  papers  ?  "  asked 
Owen. 

"No,  I'll  take  your  word,"  cried  Walter, 
hastily.  "  Papers  are  the  greatest  old  gossips  in 
the  world,  and  are  sure  to  tell  their  secrets  sooner 
or  later." 

"I  believe  you're  right,"  said  Owen,  smiling 
faintly. 

The  next  morning  Walter  made  his  appear- 
ance, after  an  elaborate  toilet,  as  faultless  and 
self-possessed  as  ever.  His  light  laugh  again 
and  again  jarred  painfully  upon  Owen's  excited 
nerves,  while  he  wondered  if  his  cousin  had  the 
slightest  appreciation  of  his  grievous  sacrifice. 
Not  that  he  regretted  it,  or  wished  to  alter  his 
decision,  but  he  was  conscious  of  an  involun- 
tary sinking  of  heart,  when  he  remembered 
13 


194  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Charley  Morgan,  and  the  vacant  desk  there 
would  be  at  school.  It  would  be  hard  to  tell 
Charley.  Why  wouldn't  it  be  better  and  easier 
to  have  it  over  at  once  ?  And  then  hp  might 
stop  and  ask  Mr.  Hewlett's  advice,  and  perhaps, 
with  his  large  acquaintance,  he  might  know  of 
some  good  situation,  that  very  day. 

Owen  rose  hastily;  Honor  looked  up  with  a 
shade  of  regret. 

"  We  were  going  to  read  in  that  new  history 
this  morning,  Owen." 

It  was  so  pleasant  to  have  her  remember  him. 
She  had  been  kinder  to  him  ever  since  that  night 
on  the  rocks,  he  thought ;  but  he  shook  his  head, 
reluctantly. 

" '  I  see  a  hand  you  cannot  see,' "  he  said,  trying 
to  laugh ;  ' "  That  beckons  me  away.' " 

Walter  followed  him  anxiously  into  the  hall. 

"  You  are  not  going  to  blaze  everything  this 
morning,  are  you  ?  It  would  be  so  much  better 
to  look  around  quietly  a  few  days,  and  find  the 
best  opening." 


AN  ILL  WIXD.  195 

"  Or  maybe  lose  it,  by  our  delay,"  said 
Owen.  "  The  fact  is,  we  ought  to  be  earning 
something  as  soon  as  possible.  You  are  in  debt 
already." 

"  But  there's  no  need  of  such  desperate  hurry. 
Perhaps  Uncle  Knowlson  will  get  well  yet,  and 
pay  me  back.  It's  such  a  terrible  come-down  to* 
go  and  be  a  clerk,"  he  pleaded. 

Owen  gave  him  one  of  those  looks  that  Walter 
always  dreaded. 

"  No  come-down,"  said  he,  "  unless  you  mean 
to  make  a  dishonest  one." 

"Walter  colored,  but  he  would  not  be  put  off. 
"Sleep  on  it  once  more,"  he  urged,  "and  let's 
talk  about  it  to-morrow,  when  we're  calmer. 
There's  a  dozen  different  courses  we  might  take." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Owen,  energetic- 
ally. "  There  are  twenty  ways  of  going  to  a  point, 
and  one  is  the  shortest ;  but  set  out  at  once  on 
one." 

"  How  I  hate  all  those  old  saws  ! "  said  Wal- 
ter. "  They're  just  made  for  such  a  machine  as 


196  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

you  are.  You  always  remind  me  of  Herr  Van 
Flam's  wooden  leg,  —  just  a  compound  of  clock- 
work and  steam.  It  puts  me  out  of  breath  to 
think  of  being  fastened  to  you.  I  shall  be  a 
skeleton  in  a  year ! " 

Owen  laughed,  in  spite  of  his  heavy  heart. 
"  I'll  unscrew  you  once  in  a  while,"  said  he,  "  and 
let  you  rest." 


CHAPTER  X. 

STBAITS. 

JREAT  was  Charley  Morgan's  conster- 
nation, and  Mr.  Howlett's  regret,  when 
Owen  imparted  his  disastrous  news. 
"  We  must  arrange  it  in  some  way,"  said  Mr. 
Hewlett.  "I  cannot  willingly  give  up  such  a 
good  scholar.  Our  school  is  large,  and  we 
need  some  help  with  the  younger  boys ;  why  not 
teach  a  class  or  two,  and  take  your  tuition  for 
your  salary  ?  " 

Owen's  heart  gave  a  sudden  leap. 
"  But  Walter,  would  any  such  arrangement  in- 
clude him  too  ?  " 

Mr.  Howlett  shook  his  head.    There  was  not 
work  enough  for  both. 

"I'd  better  not    think    about    it    then,  sir," 
097) 


198  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

said  Owen,  trying  to  hide  his  disappointment. 
"  Thank  you  just  the  same,  but  it  doesn't  seem 
quite  right  to  desert  Walty.  "We  must  stand  to- 
gether." 

"  And  he  has  been  just  as  unfortunate  as  you  ?  " 
sighed  Charley. 

'We  share  the  trouble  equally,"  said  Owen, 
hesitating. 

"Have  you  formed  any  other  plans?"  asked 
Mr.  Hewlett 

Owen  confided  his  desire  of  obtaining  a  clerk- 
ship, and  his  hope,  in  time,  to  save  enough  to  go 
on  with  his  beloved  studies. 

"Well,  well,"  said  kind  Mr.  Hewlett,  wip- 
ing his  eyes,  "perhaps  it  is  best.  One  must 
go  back  sometimes  in  order  to  progress.  You 
will  at  least  be  learning  energy  and  self-reliance, 
which  is  not  always  taught  in  the  schools. 
Let  me  see,"  he  said,  musing ;  "  there  is  Mr. 
Coolidge,  who  keeps  the  large  fancy  and  toy 
store,  you  know,  —  needs  a  clerk;  but  perhaps 
you  wouldn't  like  such  a  place  ?  " 


STRAITS.  199 

"  0,  yes,  yes ! "  said  Owen,  hastily. 

"  Then  I  will  write  you  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion." He  took  his  pen,  —  "I  suppose  I  shall 
say  you  are  honest  and  truthful?"  he  looked 
searchingly  at  Owen.  "  I  never  had  reason  to 
doubt  you  but  once." 

The  blood  seemed  bursting  through  Owen's 
cheeks.  "  Don't  write  it,  sir,  if  you  doubt  me 
still !  "  he  said,  a  little  proudly. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Hewlett,"  cried  excitable  Charley, 
"  you  ought  never  to  have  doubted  Owen." 

"  Perhaps  not,  perhaps  not,"  said  Mr.  How- 
lett,  not  at  all  displeased  with  the  boy's  vehe- 
mence. 

"  There,"  said  he,  presently,  finishing  and 
folding  his  letter.  "  Take  this  to  him  immedi- 
ately. There  will  be  a  great  many  applicants, 
but  I  think  my  recommendation  will  have  some 
weight.  Success  to  you,  my  dear  boy ;  and  may 
your  good  conduct  more  than  justify  my  words 
of  praise." 

Owen   lost  no  time  in  presenting  his  letter. 


200  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

It  must  have  been  something  very  complimentary 
indeed ;  for  Mr.  Coolidge,  after  a  few  simple  ques- 
tions, engaged  him  upon  the  spot,  and  wished 
him  to  begin  his  duties  the  very  next  day. 

There  was  only  one  faint  shadow  to  dim  the 
brilliancy  of  this  uulooked  for  success.  As  he 
was  leaving  the  store,  he  stumbled  upon  Fan- 
shawe,  in  the  door. 

"What,  are  you  here?"  said  Owen,  in  some 
surprise. 

"Yes,"  said  Fanshawe,  ungraciously.  "I 
never  could  go  back  to  Mr.  Hewlett,  after 
being  treated  with  such  injustice ;  and,  on  the 
whole,  I  thought  I  should  prefer  a  mercantile 
life  to  a  profession.  I  shall  certainly  have  a 
better  chance  to  get  rich.  Mr.  Coolidge  is  my 
uncle,  and  will  take  me  into  partnership  some 
day."  And  as  Owen  turned  away,  he  added,  with 
a  little  attempt  at  courtesy,  —  "  Drop  in  and  see 
me,  now  and  then." 

Owen  laughed.  "  I  shall  probably  '  drop  in/ 
and  see  you  every  day,  after  this." 


STRAITS.  201 

"My  uncle  hasn't  engaged  you  for  the  other 
clerk  ?  "  cried  Fanshawe,  anything  but  an  agree- 
able expression  sweeping  over  his  face. 

Owen  nodded,  and  Fanshawe,  without  another 
word,  abruptly  turned  on  his  heel  and  left 
him. 

,  That  evening,  Owen  felt  that  he  could  no 
longer  delay  disclosing  to  Mrs.  "Whately  and 
Honor,  the  great  change  in  their  prospects  and 
plans.  Walter  feigned  an  errand  from  the  room 
till  it  was  all  over. 

After  the  first  burst  of  honest,  motherly  sym- 
pathy, Mrs.  "Whately  said,  — 

"But  have  you  both  lost?  I  thought  your 
property  was  in  different  hands." 

Owen  colored  violently.  To  such  a  passion- 
ate lover  of  truth,  the  least  evasion  was  pain- 
ful. 

"  One  has  suffered  rather  more  than  the  other," 
said  he,  hastily;  "but  we  share  the  discomfort 
equally." 

Mrs.  Whately   saw  there  was  something    he 


202  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

wished  to  conceal,  and  respecting  his  secret,  asked 
nothing  further. 

But  Honor  was  thinking  busily.  Why  did 
Owen  color  so  painfully,  and  answer  so  differ- 
ently from  his  usual  frank  manner?  The  one 
who  had  suffered  most,  must  have  been  himself, 
as  was  almost  proved,  she  thought,  by  the  ener- 
getic way  in  which  he  had  bestirred  himself. 
This  opinion  was  farther  confirmed  when  Walter 
returned,  and  she  asked  him  softly,  — 

"  Do  you  give  up  school,  too  ?  " 

And  he  answered  briefly,  "  If  Owen  can't  go,  I 
can't." 

True  words,  but  with  a  false  ring. 

Unhappy  Walter;  he  could  not  bear  to  have 
Honor  suspect  he  was  penniless,  — a  "pauper,"  as 
he  called  himself  bitterly.  No,  she  must  still 
think  him  the  rich,  open-handed  Walter,  and 
perhaps  Uncle  Knowlson  would  live  yet,  and 
everything  come  right. 

But  Honor,  after  a  glance  of  affectionate  ad- 


STRAITS.  203 

miration,  which  he  received  with  unblushing 
cheeks,  turned  away  sadly. 

"  I  am  disappointed  in  Owen,"  she  confessed  to 
herself;  "I  should  like  him  better  if  he  had  re- 
fused such  a  sacrifice." 

Unconscious  Owen,  in  the  meantime,  drew 
Walter  aside,  to  communicate  the  day's  success. 

"  A  pretty  good  entry  to  make  in  our  log-book 
to-day,  Walty,"  he  said  cheerfully.  "I  thought 
we  were  in  pretty  narrow  straits  last  night,  and  I 
hardly  knew  which  way  to  steer.  But  Mr.  How- 
lett  made  a  capital  lighthouse,  didn't  he  ?  We're 
off  the  reefs  again,  with  his  help." 

"  /  haven't  stirred,"  said  Walter,  gloomily. 

"But  you  shall;  I'll  find  you  a  place,"  said 
Owen,  taking  all  the  care  and  responsibility  as 
a  matter  of  course.  "  We  must  do  our  best  to 
make  a  successful  trip  this  year,  and  fill  our  ship 
with  '  gold  and  ivory  peacocks.'  Won't  it  be  de- 
lightful when  we  are  ready  to  exchange  them  for 
more  precious  freight  ?  " 

Nearly  a  month  passed  by,  and  despite  Owen's 


204  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

efforts,  no  other  place  had  been  found.  But  "Wal- 
ter took  life  very  easily.  He  had  received  Uncle 
Knowlson's  watch,  and  a  few  other  trifles,  —  last 
bequests  of  the  poor  old  gentleman,  —  and  having 
pawned  them,  he  had  a  little  ready  money,  and 
managed  to  spend  his  days  very  pleasantly. 

But  one  night  Owen  came  in  a  little  earlier 
than  usual. 

"  All  right  at  last,  Walty,"  he  said,  taking  him 
aside.  "  Mr.  Coolidge's  assistant  bookkeeper  is 
going  away,  and  Mr.  Hewlett  has  been  kind 
enough  to  say  that  I  am  perfectly  competent  to 
take  the  place.  So  Mr.  Coolidge  is  going  to  try 
me,  at  an  advanced  salary,  you  know,  and  he  says 
you  may  come  in  my  place." 

Contrary  to  Owen's  expectations,  "Walter's  face 
darkened ;  he  could  not  endure  the  thought  of 
occupying  an  inferior  position  to  his  cousin,  play- 
ing Haman,  he  thought,  to  Owen's  Mordecai. 

"  "Why  couldn't  you  have  proposed  me  for  the 
new  place  ?  "  said  he.  "  I  am  the  oldest,  and  as 
quick  at  figures  as  you  are." 


STRAITS.  205 

"  I  never  once  thought  of  it,"  confessed  honest 
Owen,  flushing.  "  I  can  do  it  yet,  but  I'm  afraid 
it  won't  do  any  good,"  he  hesitated.  "  You  see  I 
know  something  about  the  business  now;  and 
then  I  look  so  much  older  than  I  am.  I  know 
Mr.  Coolidge  thinks  I  am  eighteen,  at  least,  but 
you  are  slighter,  more  boyish  looking"  — 

"  I  am  sufficiently  well  acquainted  with  my 
personal  appearance,"  said  Walter,  loftily.  "  I  can 
spare  your  very  flattering  description." 

Owen  walked  hastily  away,  as  was  his  wont, 
when  he.  could  not  trust  himself  to  speak. 

Nothing  more  was  said  till  late  at  night,  when 
Walter  sullenly  inquired,  — 

"  When  does  he  want  me  ?  " 

"  Monday,"  said  Owen,  briefly. 

"  But  we're  going  a  nutting,  Monday.  Sprague 
and  his  sister,  and  Honor,  and  a  great  party.  I 
won't  come  then,  anyway." 

"  Very  well,  then.  Choose  your  bag  of  nuts,  if 
that  seems  best  to  you,"  said  Owen,  losing  pa- 
tience. "I  shall  not  urge  you.  There  are  a 


206  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

dozen  other  boys,  eager  and  ready  to  take  the 
place.  But,  Walter,  I  shall  not  try  to  help  you 
yery  soon  again,  and  if  you  find  the  straits  too 
narrow,  remember  you  chose  to  stay  there." 

The  next  Monday  Walter  was  punctually  in  hia 
place;  neat,  trim,  handsome,  and  graceful.  Mr. 
Coolidge  was  well  pleased  with  his  new  clerk ;  he 
would  learn  very  quick,  and  attract  customers  to 
the  store.  Walter  also  was  genuinely  pleased  with 
his  success,  although  he  treated  Owen  with  studied 
coldness,  being  further  incited  thereto  by  his  old 
friend  Fanshawe,  who  was  greatly  incensed  at  his 
uncle's  preferment  of  Owen,  and  lost  no  oppor- 
tunity of  showing  his  dislike  and  jealousy. 


CHAPTER  XL 

A   HEAVY   SEA. 

[EARLY  a  year  had  passed  away,  and 
Owen's  bright  face  was  becoming  per- 
ceptibly pale  and  anxious.  They  had 
not  made  the  prosperous  cruise  he  hoped. 
Walter  had  gradually  become  more  and  more 
fascinated  with  Fanshawe,  who  led  him  into 
all  kinds  of  excesses,  while  Owen's  remonstrances 
only  seemed  to  give  a  keener  relish  to  the 
forbidden  pleasures.  Lately,  whole  nights,  even, 
had  been  spent  in  dissipation,  and  yet  Wal- 
ter, though  pale  and  haggard,  had  thus  far 
managed  to  be  promptly  at  his  post,  and  retain 
the  confidence  of  his  employer.  But  how  long 
could  it  lust  ?  Owen  asked  himself  with  a  sinking 
heart,  as  he  found  all  his  entreaties  worse  than  in 
vain. 

(207) 


208  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

The  only  interference  Walter  Avould  allow, 
was  for  Owen  to  pay  his  debts  when  they  be- 
came too  pressing,  and  threatened  disgrace  or 
exposure.  At  such  times  there  had,  at  first, 
been  some  flashes  of  gratitude,  some  sense  of 
shame,  with  many  tearful  promises  of  amend- 
ment; but  latterly  Owen's  sacrifices  had  be- 
come a  matter  of  course,  —  no  more  to  be 
wondered  at,  or  thought  of,  than  the  daily  ris- 
ing of  the  sun.  Walter  would  not  even  lift  his 
finger  to  spare  him  one  of  the  annoyances  which 
Fanshawe  daily  planned,  to  wreak  his  ill-humor 
upon  the  boy,  whose  pure  life  was  such  a  con- 
stant, irritating  rebuke. 

Only  one  defence  seemed  left  between  the 
headstrong  Walter  and  ruin,  and  that  was,  his 
ever  strong  desire  to  keep  the  respect  and  good 
opinion  of  the  home  circle,  especially  of  Honor, 
sweet,  womanly  Honor. 

Whatever  were  his  excesses,  he  was  careful 
never  to  appear  in.  that  charmed  circle  till  the 
evil  spirit  had  left  him,  and  he  was  clothed  and 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  209 

in  his  right  mind.  And  Mrs.  Whately,  Honor, 
and  Phemie  (who  was  again  with  them,  going 
to  school)  vied  with  each  other  in  attentions  to 
the  pale  boy,  who  seemed  to  be  ailing  more  and 
more  every  day,  while  they  were  so  very  far  from 
suspecting  the  cause. 

As  for  Owen,  working  far  beyond  his 
strength,  seeing  his  brightest  dreams  ever  re- 
ceding,—  he  carried  his  burdens  alone.  No 
one  seemed  to  suspect  that  he  needed  any  sym- 
pathy, and  he  was  too  careful  of  Walter's 
honor,  to  confide  his  heavy  secrets  even  to  his 
dearest  friend,  Charley.  But  they  were  wear- 
ing upon  him  ;  the  endless  trials,  great  and  small, 
were  almost  more  than  the  boy  of  sixteen  could 
nerve  himself  to  meet,  and  he  grew  moody  and 
Unsocial. 

It  was  a  lovely  moonlight  evening  in  early 
fall,  when  Owen  walked  wearily  home,  with  a 
tread  very  different  from  the  elasticity  of  a  year 
ago.  He  feared  Walter  was  off  with  Fanshawe 

again,  for  they  had  left  the  store  early  together ; 
14 


210  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

but  he  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  him  in  the 
pleasant  parlors,  in  voluble  conversation  with 
Honor  and  Phemie. 

"  See,"  said  Honor,  holding  up  her  hand ; 
"what  a  beautiful  basket  of  fruit  Walter  has 
brought  us.  Peaches  and  grapes!  Was  there 
ever  more  exquisite  crimson  and  purple  ?  " 

"  And  he  has  brought  us  each  a  new  song ! " 
cried  Phemie.  "  He  is  too  generous !  He  would 
give  away  his  head  if  he  could,  I  believe."  She 
looked  pointedly  at  Owen  as  she  spoke. 

The  boy  understood  her,  and  colored.  He 
knew  what  they  were  all  thinking  of.  His  sal- 
ary was  the  largest, — Walter  never  let  them 
forget  that,  —  but  he  never  brought  anything 
home  ! 

Honor  held  out  the  peaches,  with  her  never- 
failing  courtesy ;  but  he  shook  his  head,  thanking 
her. 

"  I  should  think  he'd  be  afraid  they  would 
choke  him,"  whispered  Phemie;  but  Owen  heard 
every  word. 


"  See,  said  Honor,  "  what  a  beautiful  basket  of  fruit  Walter 
has  brought  us  !"— PAGE  210. 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  211 

There  was  a  little  silence,  and  then  Phemie  said 
aloud  — 

"  I  thought  you  were  going  to  school  again, 
this  Fall." 

"  If  I  could  earn  money  enough,"  said  Owen, 
gravely,  "  but  I  couldn't." 

"  Couldn't  ?  "  cried  Phemie,  in  vast  surprise , 
"why,  I  thought  you  must  be  about  as  rich  as 
Mr.  Peabody,  by  this  time." 

"There  is  some  slight  difference  in  our  for- 
tunes yet,"  said  Owen,  trying  to  smile. 

"But  you  must  have  made  something  very 
handsome,"  persisted  sharp  tongued  Phemie. 
"  Double  your  salary,  anyway,  if  it's  true  that  a 
*  penny  saved  is  a  penny  earned ! ' ' 

"  Oh,  Phemie,  how  could  you!"  cried  Honor, 
coloring  almost  as  painfully  as  Owen ;  while 
"Walter  uneasily  proposed  that  they  should  have 
some  music. 

Honor  rose  eagerly ;  glad  of  anything  to  change 
the  subject. 

"  Come,  Owen,"  said  she,  kindly. 


212  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

But  Owen  could  not  have  sung  a  note  if  his 
life  depended  upon  it.  He  would  rather  listen 
he  said,  and,  without  urging  him  very  much, 
they  walked  away,  leaving  him  sitting  in  the 
shadow  of  the  window  curtains.  He  wasn't  at 
all  necessary  to  their  enjoyment ;  he  felt  it 
bitterly,  as  he  listened  to  the  voices  chattering 
gaily,  in  the  intervals  of  trying  the  new  songs. 
Was  it  right,  was  it  just,  he  asked  himself 
passionately,  that  "Walter  should  be  so  flattered 
and  honored,  while  he  was  always  under  some 
mysterious  cloud,  which  he  felt,  but  knew  not 
how  to  sweep  away  ?  What  if  they  knew  all  the 
truth  ?  if  he  should  lay  bare  all  his  barren,  strug- 
gling life  ?  would  that  make  any  difference  ? 
Yes,  they  might  pity  him  a  little  more ;  nothing 
farther!  He  remembered  something  Phemie 
had  once  said  —  She  "  was  tired  of  all  that  old 
humbug  about  the  industrious  ants !  Why  they 
should  be  praised,  she  couldn't  see !  They,  and 
people  like  them,  worked  because  it  was  all  they 
were  fit  for ;  and  she  believed  every  ugly,  black 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  213 

morsel,  —  lugging  his  selfish  grain  of  sand, — 
was  just  dying  of  envy  that  he  wasn't  a  golden- 
winged  butterfly,  making  the  whole  world  brighter 
and  gayer ! " 

"  They  will  all  side  with  the  butterfly  now," 
thought  patient  Owen,  "  and  it  is  only  natural." 

He  sat  in  great  humility,  thinking  how  dull, 
and  unattractive  he  had  grown ;  but  he  wished 
they  might  not  despise  him.  Dislike,  he  could 
bear,  but  not  contempt;  he  had  not  deserved 
that;  and  again  came  the  passionate  desire  for 
justice,  only  justice!  What  if  he  should  walk 
up  to  them  now,  and  show  them  in  plain  figures, 
how  little  he  had  spent  upon  himself  the  past 
year  ?  how  he  could  not  retain  his  place  if  his 
worn  clothes  became  much  shabbier; — show 
them  his  empty  purse,  drained  that  very  week  to 
pay  another  of  Larry  Pitt's  disgraceful  bills, 
upon  Walter's  solemn  promise  that  it  should  be 
the  last.  And  yet  Walter  had  deceived  him; 
he  had  plenty  of  money  to  pay  the  debt  himself, 
it  seemed.  Plenty  to  gratify  any  generous  whim ; 


214  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

for,  in  a  temporary  absence  of  Phemie's,  Owen  de- 
tected his  cousin  slipping  a  little  glittering  circlet 
upon  Honor's  finger. 

"  To  replace  the  one  you  lost  in  the  fire,"  he 
heard  him  say  softly.  "A  pearl  just  like  your- 
self, Honor." 

And  the  blushing,  embarrassed  girl  did  not 
seem  displeased. 

Owen  rose  excitedly.  He  would  ask  Walter 
to  pay  him  back.  They  should  know  whose 
money  he  was  spending;  they  should  know  every- 
thing ! 

He  took  a  step  forward,  and  then  sank  back 
with  quick  shame.  Had  he  not  given  his  word 
that  nothing  should  be  known  through  him  ? 
Was  trouble  making  him  so  base  and  treach- 
erous ?  Could  he  not  keep  his  promises,  — 
especially  the  one  to  that  gentle,  trusting 
mother  ?  Ah !  but  if  she  had  known  what  she 
was  asking,  would  she  not  have  hesitated  ?  He 
knew  she  would  pity  him  if  she  saw  him  now. 
And,  no  longer  able  to  control  himself,  Owen 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  215 

stole  away  to  sob  out  all  his  troubles  in  the  ear 
of  the  great  Friend,  who  knew  all,  and  to  find 
peace  and  rest,  at  last,  upon  that  yearning  Heart 
of  love. 

After  this  unhappy  evening,  Owen  rarely 
lingered  long  in  the  parlors.  Affectionate 
Little  Picket,  was  almost  always  awaiting  his 
return ;  but  after  a  short  game  with  him,  and  a 
few  pleasant  words  with  Mrs.  "Whately,  he  would 
generally  go  to  his  room,  and  spend  the  evening 
in  reading  and  study.  To  be  sure  he  sometimes 
thought  Honor  looked  after  him  regretfully,  and 
he  would  be  almost  ready  to  turn  back,  till  he 
remembered  that  her  kind  heart  would  grieve  if 
she  thought  a  cat,  or  a  dog  were  unhappy,  — 
and  then  he  would  go  quietly  on.  It  was  better 
and  safer  for  him  to  be  alone,  he  thought. 
Besides,  study  was  an  exhilaration,  and  the  con- 
sciousness of  progress,  almost  happiness,  to  such 
an  eager  spirit  as  Owen's.  Altogether,  he  was 
determined  to  take  more  hopeful  views  of  life. 


216  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Perhaps  another  year  would  be  more  successful ; 
and  he  would  not  be  much  over  seventeen,  then. 

Thus  a  fortnight  passed  by,  when,  one  morn- 
ing, as  Owen  reached  the  store,  he  was  surprised 
to  find  Mr.  Coolidge  (who  generally  kept  late 
hours)  awaiting  him  at  the  door. 

Still  more  disturbed  was  he,  when,  in  place 
of  the  usual  cordial  greeting,  he  was  sternly  re- 
quested to  follow  his  employer  into  the  back 
office. 

Mr.  Coolidge  motioned  him  to  a  seat.  "  Do 
you  remember  a  check  I  gave  you  two  or  three 
weeks  ago,  to  enclose  to  Mr.  Dunn  ?  " 

"Perfectly,  sir;  a  check  for  three  hundred  dol- 
lars." 

"  Exactly ;  and  what  did  you  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  You  remember,  sir,  just  as  I  was  sealing  the 
letter,  you  countermanded  the  order.  You  had 
discovered  some  mistake  in  the  delivery  of  the 
goods,  and  you  would  not  send  it  till  all  was 
right." 

"  What  did  you  do  with  the  check  ?  " 


A  HE  A  VY  SEA.  217 

"  As  yon  told  me,  sir ;  carried  it  to  Mr.  Grimes, 
to  put  in  the  safe  till  it  was  needed." 

Mr.  Coolidge  looked  at  him  keenly.  "  That 
check,  which  unfortunately  had  been  made  pay- 
able to  bearer,"  he  said  slowly,  "has  been  pre- 
sented at  the  bank,  and  paid !" 

Owen  started  in  genuine  astonishment.  "  How 
can  that  be  possible,  sir  ?  " 

"How,  indeed!"  responded  Mr.  Coolidge, 
in  an  icy  tone.  "Mr.  Grimes  h^s  been  in  my 
employ  twenty  years,  and  I  have  never  known 
him  to  swerve  a  hairVbreadth  from  the  strictest 
honesty.  He  locks  that  safe  always  himself, 
and  keeps  the  secret  of  the  combinations.  I 
could  not  open  it  myself,  if  I  would.  If  that 
paper  was  brought  to  him,  —  as  he  does  not  now 
remember,  —  and  put  in  the  safe,  —  it  would  be 
there  now ! " 

Suddenly  and  overwhelmingly  it  dawned  upon 
Owen,  where  Mr.  Coolidge's  suspicions  were 
resting. 


218  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  You  will  not  say,  sir,  that  the  check  was  not 
taken  to  Mr.  Grimes  ?  " 

He  had  risen  from  his  seat,  hat  trembled  so 
violently  from  agitation,  that  he  had  to  lean 
against  the  desk  to  steady  himself. 

"What  can  I  think?"  said  Mr.  Coolidge, 
avoiding  the  eager  eyes.  "They  tell  me  at  the 
bank  that  it  Avas  presented  by  one  of  my  young 
clerks.  The  Teller  did  not  think  he  could  swear 
to  the  face,  —  so  many  are  coming  to  him  every 
hour ;  —  but  his  impression  was  that  the  boy  was 
tall,  with  blue  eyes,  and  light  brown  hair ! " 

Even  at  that  painful  moment,  Owen  was  con- 
scious of  a  slight  relief.  It  was  not  Walter,  then ! 
It  must  have  been  Fanshawe,  who  answered  the 
description  exactly,  far  better  than  he,  whose  hair 
and  eye-lashes  were  almost  dark.  Why  couldn't 
Mr.  Coolidge  see  it ! 

"I  have  another  clerk,  'tall,  and  with  blue 
eyes,'"  said  Mr.  Coolidge,  a  little  sarcastically, 
—  seeming  to  read  his  thoughts,  "whom  I  am 
willing  to  suspect,  if  you  can  suggest  any  way 


A  HEAVY  SEA. 

for  his  getting  into  that  safe !  Only  the  inventor 
could  open  it;  not  knowing  the  combinations; 
and  the  shortest  way  for  a  burglar  would  be  to 
blow  up  the  lock.  No,  that  supposition  is  im- 
possible !  That  paper  never  found  its  way  to  the 
safe !  Perhaps  you  dropped  it,  or  picked  up  some 
other  worthless  bit  by  mistake  ?  " 

Owen  shook  his  head  sorrowfully.  "I  have 
always  been  very  careful,  sir,  I  know  it  was  that 
identical  check  I  took  to  Mr.  Grimes,  who  car- 
ried it  immediately  with  some  other  papers  to  the 
safe ! " 

"  And  you  cannot  give  the  slightest  clue  to  its 
disappearance ! " 

"It  is  a  perfect  mystery  to  me,  sir!  "  said  poor 
Owen,  feeling  as  if  the  ground  were  slipping  away 
from  under  his  feet. 

"I  should  like  to  believe  yon,  Grey,"  said 
Mr.  Coolidge,  hesitating,  "but  the  circum- 
stances are  too  much  against  you.  I  have  also 
been  to  see  your  old  friend  Mr.  Hewlett,  and 
have  drawn  from  him  a  reluctant  acknowledg- 


220  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

ment  that  your  truthfulness  was  at  one  time  un- 
der grave  suspicion,  and  that  it  has  never  been 
satisfactorily  established!  You  have  been  a  faith- 
ful clerk  to  me,  however,  up  to  this  time,  and  in 
consideration  of  your  past  good  conduct,  I  shall 
not  be  severe  with  you.  There  shall  be  no 
public  exposure ;  but  I  cannot  run  any  more 
risks ;  you  may  consider  yourself  dismissed  from 
my  service ! " 

There  were  no  passionate  remonstrances,  as 
Mr.  Coolidge  half  expected.  In  utter  silence, 
Owen  groped  for  his  hat ;  but  the  white  despair 
of  his  expressive  face  was  more  eloquent  than 
words. 

Mr.  Coolidge  turned  away  his  head.  "You 
might  have  been  sent  to  gaol  for  this,  Grey.  I 
have  been  very  lenient  to  you ! " 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  said  poor  Owen,  mechan- 
ically ;  and  he  staggered  forth  into  the  street. 

It  must  have  been  two  or  three  hours  from 
the  time  of  leaving  the  store,  before  Owen 
reached  home,  and  the  interval  was  always  a 


A  HE  A  VY  SEA.  221 

blank.  To  be  sure,  the  kind  heart  hud  helped  a 
tottering  old  woman  across  the  street,  —  had 
given  a  penny  to  a  little  child  sobbing  over  a 
lost  slate  pencil,  and  had  left  his  last  quarter  in 
the  hand  of  old  blind  Jacob,  at  the  corner.  But 
he  remembered  nothing  of  this ;  kind  deeds  to 
the  least  of  the  Lord's  little  ones,  had  become  as 
natural  to  him,  and  as  unconsciously  performed, 
as  the  act  of  drawing  his  breath. 

But  he  was  very  glad  to  get  home,  and  very 
glad  that  Phemie  and  Honor  were  at  school,  and 
Mrs.  Whately  and  Mimi  in  the  kitchen,  so  that 
he  could  steal  up  to  his  room  without  being  ob- 
served ;  steal  in,  and  lock  the  door,  and  hide  from 
every  eye ;  till  Walter  came  home,  and  the  dread- 
ful revelation  must  be  made. 

When  his  mind  became  a  little  calmer,  he 
forced  himself  to  go  over  and  over  again,  every 
minute  transaction  of  that  fatal  day,  one  short 
fortnight  ago.  He  remembered  that  Eben  stood 
near  him,  as  Mr.  Coolidge  countermanded  his 
order;  and  as  he  had  always  distrusted  the  boy, 


222  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

he  did  not  wait  a  minute  to  place  the  check  safe 
in  Mr.  Grimes'  hands.  That  one  circumstance 
made  him  sure.  It  was  certainly  put  in  the  safe ! 
How  then  did  it  get  out  ?  He  did  not  suspect 
for  a  moment,  honest  old  Grimes,  with  one  foot 
in  the  grave.  But  Fanshawe  —  his  mind  con- 
tinually reverted  to  him  —  had  been  wonderfully 
flush  lately !  There  had  been  drives  and  suppers 
without  number,  and  he  was  sporting  a  new 
chain !  But  how  did  he  open  the  safe  ?  he 
hadn't  the  least  mechanical  genius ;  Owen  hofc- 
estly  doubted  if  he  could  have  opened  it,  if  he 
had  known  the  figures. 

So  the  vexed  subject  ebbed  to  and  fro  in  his 
mind,  and  there  seemed  no  possible  solution  to 
the  mystery. 

At  last,  baffled  and  wearied,  he  turned  from 
it,  and  forced  himself  to  think  of  his  future. 
What  would  Charley  say?  happy  Charley,  just 
entering  upon  his  college  life.  What  a  gulf 
there  seemed  between  them  now.  Was  his 
friendship  strong  enough  to  stand  such  a  test, 


A  SEA  VY  SEA.  223 

and  believe  him,  under  such  a  weight  of  sus- 
picion ?  And  Mrs.  "Whately,  Honor,  even 
Phemie,  what  would  they  all  think  of  him? 
And  Bobby,  quaint,  high-minded  Little  Picket. 
How  it  would  hurt  him  if  that  honorable  little 
heart  grew  cold  at  the  word  —  thief.  For  they 
must  all  know.  Even  if  Mr.  Coolidge  kept  the 
secret,  these  friends  should  know  everything. 
And  then  if  they  couldn't  trust  him;  if  they 
were  not  sure  of  his  innocence,  —  he  had  better 
give  them  up  at  once. 

Thus  the  sore,  proud  heart  tormented  itself, 
and  the  lagging  hours  dragged  on,  till,  at  last, 
with  a  start,  he  recognized  Walter's  step  in  the 
hall,  and  knew  that  the  time  had  come  for  the 
ordeal  from  which  he  would  not  spare  himself. 

As  he  went  to  the  mirror,  to  arrange  his  dis- 
ordered dress,  he  was  startled  at  his  black  circled 
eyes,  and  wan  face,  which  looked  out  at  him  like 
some  strange  glimpse  of  himself,  when  he  had 
grown  to  be  an  old,  old  man. 

But  he  felt  that  he  had  no  time  for  self-pity ; 


224  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

he  must  nerve  himself  to  meet  the  grieved  sur- 
prise of  all  those  dear  faces.  And  what  if  they 
shouldn't  trust  him ! 

God  only  knew  what  torture,  even  a  suspicion 
of  dishonesty  was  to  the  proud  boy. 

Slowly  he  n eared  the  dining-room,  and,  hear- 
ing the  sound  of  eager  voices,  —  hesitated  a  mo- 
ment before  he  could  summon  resolution  to  open 
the  door. 

There  was  blank  silence  as  he  entered,  and  the 
group  around  Walter  separated  hastily. 

Owen's  face  grew  a  shade  paler,  if  that  were 
possible.  They  were  talking  about  him,  it  was 
evident;  and  they  believed  he  had  done  it, — 
the  silence  proved  it. 

The  room  swam  around ;  he  turned,  groping 
for  the  door,  with  only  one  thought,  to  hide 
himself  forever  from  all  those  familiar  yet  pitiless 
eyes. 

It  was  only  a  moment,  —  although  it  seemed 
ages,  — and  Mrs.  Whately  had  caught  him  in  her 
outstretched  arms. 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  225 

"  My  poor  boy ! "  she  cried,  shocked  at  his 
altered  appearance;  and  drawing  the  white  face 
down  between  her  kind,  motherly  hands,  she 
kissed  him  tenderly. 

Owen  then  became  conscious  of  Little  Picket's 
clinging  hands,  trying  to  lead  him  to  the  sofa, 
while  the  child,  trying  not  to  break  into  sobs, 
was  inveighing  loudly  against  Mr.  Coolidge. 

"I'll  never  spend  another  cent  in  his  store," 
cried  the  indignant  Picket,  "if  I  have  to  go 
without  tops  and  marbles  all  the  rest  of  my 
life!" 

"  He  may  as  well  put  up  his  shutters  then  j 
he'll  fail  before  the  year  is  out,"  said  provoking 
Phemie. 

But  Little  Picket  scorned  to  notice  the  satire. 
He  was  too  busy  watching  his  beloved  Owen. 

"  You  must  not  take  it  so  hard,  Owen,"  said 
Walter,  who  seemed  as  genuinely  distressed  as  his 
cousin.  "  We  are  all  quite  sure  you  never  took 
the  check." 

Owen  looked  up  gratefully. 
15 


226  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  But  how  did  you  know  about  it,  Walter  ? " 
said  he,  a  sudden  thought  striking  him,  "  Mr. 
Coolidge  promised  to  keep  the  whole  matter  a 
secret." 

"  Oh,  such  things  are  sure  to  leak  out,  you 
know ;  we  all  knew  you  were  gone,  —  dismissed, 
and  then  Eben  remembered  he  had  overheard  his 
uncle  talking  with  Grimes  about  that  check,,  yes- 
terday, and  putting  this  and  that  together,  we 
found  out  easily  enough  that  you  were  suspected 
of"  — 

"Never  mind,"  said  Mrs.  "Whately,  hastily, 
noticing  that  Owen  had  bitten  his  lip  till  it  was 
bleeding.  "We  will  consider  this  a  forbidden 
subject,  unless  some  one  has  some  new  light  to 
throw  upon  the  mystery.  Come,  how  thought- 
less we  all  are!  The  poor  child  has  had  no 
dinner ;  he  looks  ready  to  faint  away ! "  and  she 
bustled  off  for  some  little  delicacy  to  tempt  his 
appetite. 

Little  Picket  was  watching  with  fond  delight, 
the  gradual  brightening  of  Owen's  expressive 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  227 

face.  The  poor  boy  found  the  world  so  much 
better  than  he  feared.  This  blow  was  not  fatal 
then ;  he  might  still  be  trusted,  —  might  find 
another  position ;  and  the  brave,  elastic  spirit  of 
youth  began  to  revive.  He  could  not  always 
be  so  unfortunate.  He  would  look  for  a  new 
place  the  very  next  morning. 

So  the  dreaded  evening  passed  away  almost 
happily.  Every  one  had  been  kind,  —  Walter, 
even  anxiously  attentive;  and  as  they  early  sep- 
arated to  their  rooms,  Owen's  grateful  heart  was 
conscious  of  but  one  drawback  to  its  entire  satis- 
faction. He  was  disappointed  that  Honor  had 
not  said,  —  even  in  the  fewest  simplest  words, 
—  that  she  trusted  him !  Phemie,  too,  had  been 
silent;  and  though  he,  heretofore,  had  cared 
very  little  for  the  opinion  of  the  "  rattle-head," 
it  would  have  given  him  comfort  now,  to  know 
that  a  conviction  of  his  honesty  had  taken  root, 
even  in  that  shallow  little  heart.  He  hoped  and 
tried  to  persuade  himself  that  this  silence  was  ac- 
cidental ;  but  he  would  have  understood  it  better 


228  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

if  he  had  heard  Phemie's  constant  whispers,  — 
a  little  more  guarded  than  usual.  The  girl  had 
many  little  childish  causes  of  resentment  laid  up 
against  Owen,  and  could  not  afford  to  be  gener- 
ous now. 

"  Isn't  it  very  strange,  Honor,"  she  had  said, 
"that  a  tall  boy,  with  blue  eyes,  carried  that 
check  to  the  bank? " 

"But  it  was  not  Owen,"  said  Honor,  de- 
cidedly. 

"But  Owen  admits  that  Fanshawe  could  not 
have  got  it  out  of  the  safe,  if  it  was  once  put 
there;  if,  if"  —  repeated  Phemie,  significantly. 

"  I  will  not  listen  to  you,"  said  Honor,  indig- 
nantly. "  I  know  Owen  could  never  stoop  to  such 
a  thing.  It  is  impossible ! " 

"Well,  I'm  sure  I  hope  it's  all  right,  but  it 
certainly  has  a  queer  look.  And  Honor,"  she 
lowered  her  voice,  "  you  know  this  isn't  the  first 
time  he  has  been  suspected  of  something  he 
couldn't  explain.  Do  you  remember  when  Mr. 
Howlett  found  his  handkerchief? 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  229 

Honor  assented,  with  a  troubled  face. 

"It's  very  queer,"  persisted  Phemie,  "that 
a  boy  should  be  so  unfortunate  twice;  isn't  it 
now  ?  " 

"It  will  all  be  explained  yet,"  said  Honor; 
but  she  did  not  speak  with  as  firm  conviction  as 
she  could  have  wished.  The  truth  was,  that 
though  Phemie's  opinions  were  generally  of  very 
little  weight,  yet  at  times,  her  sharp  words,  like 
the  sting  of  a  gnat,  left  an  irritating  poison  behind 
them. 

And  this  Honor  felt,  as  she  stole  into  her 
mother's  room,  late  at  night,  to  tearfully  lay  be- 
fore her  all  these  suspicions. 

"It  is  certainly  very  mysterious,"  assented 
Mrs.  Whately,  thoughtfully;  "but  how  can 
we  doubt  that  open,  honest  face.  We  must  be- 
lieve the  poor  boy ;  though  I  confess  it  will  be  a 
great  load  off  my  mind  when  the  matter  is  cleared 
up." 

In  the  meantime,  Walter,  with  a  great  deal 
of  stammering,  and  a  very  red  face,  was  trying 


230  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

to  communicate  a  piece  of  news  to  Owen ;  but 
he  could  not  confe  straight  to  the  point.  After 
a  great  deal  of  circumlocution,  Owen  caught  his 
meaning. 

"  Oh,  you  wish  to  say  that  Mr.  Coolidge  has 
offered  you  my  place,  and  you  are  afraid  I  won't 
like  it?  Why,  my  dear  fellow,  I  thought  you 
knew  me  better ! "  he  took  his  hand,  and  shook  it 
heartily.  "  If  /  must  lose  it,  there  is  no  one  I 
would  rather  see  fill  it  than  you." 

Walter  submitted  to  the  pressure  uneasily,  and 
seemed  relieved  when  it  was  over. 

The  next  morning,  with  the  first  streak  of 
light,  Owen  was  up,  studying  the  advertise- 
ments of  "boys  wanted."  He  deemed  one  day 
sufficient  to  have  been  given  to  regrets ;  and  as 
soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  the  energetic  boy 
started  to  make  application  at  the  various 
places. 

It  was  well  he  had  not  known  the  day  of 
mortifications  that  lay  before  him.  In  the  first 
place  the  news  of  his  misfortunes  seemed  to  be 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  231 

"widely  spread,  and  ill  many  places,  the  simple 
announcement  that  he  had  been  "Mr.  Cool- 
idge's  clerk,"  closed  the  conference  suddenly 
and  decisively.  At  other  and  more  remote 
places  of  business,  his  application  was  no  more 
successful.  Two  dreadful  questions  were  sure  to 
be  asked. 

"  In  whose  employ  have  you  been  ?  and  why  did 
you  leave  ?  " 

Questions  to  which  the  honest  boy  could  an- 
swer nothing  but  the  simplest  truth ;  though 
each  time  a  knife  seemed  to  go  through  his 
heart. 

Then  there  were  smiles  and  looks  of  aston- 
ishment upon  the  part  of  some,  —  a  faint  glim- 
mer of  pity  and  sympathy  from  others ;  but  in 
one  thing  they  were  all  agreed,  —  they  "should 
not  need  his  services." 

As  Owen  turned,  almost  broken-hearted  from 
the  last  place  upon  his  list,  he  suddenly  stumbled 
upon  Fanshawe. 

"  How  are  you  getting  on  ?  "  said  the  boy,  inso- 


232  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

lently,  staring  into  his  dispirited  face.  "Can't 
you  make  people  believe  that  you  were  honorably 
discharged  ?  " 

"Perhaps  so,  if  I  tried,"  said  Owen,  quietly 
"But  you  wouldn't  try,  eh?     You  wouldn't 
tell  a  lie,  now,  if  you  could  get  the  biggest  salary 
in  town  ?  " 

"  You  are  right,"  said  Owen,  "  I  wouldn't." 
"  There's  some  mistake  about  you,  Owen," 
drawled  Fanshawe.  "I'm  sure  Providence 
designed  you  for  a  nursery-maid^!  With  your 
irreproachable  character,  and  talent  for  preach- 
ing, you  would  do  a  grand  work  among  the 
infants,  and  raise  up  a  race  of  little  Samuels  to 
make  the  nineteenth  century  go  out  in  a  blaze  of 
glory." 

Fanshawe  was  disappointed  in  the  effect  of  his 
words.  Owen  looked  at  him  with  an  air  of  calm 
superiority,  very  much  as  he  would  at  a  little 
puppy  barking  at  his  heels. 

"  I  should  like  to  knock  you  over ! "  said  Fan- 
shawe, angrily. 


A  HE  A  VY  SEA.  233 

"Very  well,"  said  the  unmoved  Owen, 
"only  I  warn  you  that  I  generally  fall  on 
top." 

Fanshawe  looked  at  the  broad  shoulders,  and 
wisely  turned  a  convenient  corner. 

Nearly  home,  Owen  met  Walter  going  to  his 
tea. 

"  What  success  ?  "  said  Walter,  with  a  stealthy 
glance  at  his  cousin's  face. 

"None,"  said  Owen,  faltering  a  little.  "lam 
only  sixteen,  Walty,  and  I  am  afraid  I  am  ruined 
for  life.  No  one  will  trust  me ! " 

Walter  started  nervously.  "  Oh,  don't  say  so  ! 
It  will  be  forgotten  in  a  little  while." 

"  I'm  afraid  not,  but,"  he  smiled  faintly,  "  it 
isn't  half  so  bad,  as  if  I  were  really  guilty.  I  must 
remember  to  thank  God  for  that,  Walty." 

Walter  dropped  a  book  he  was  carrying,  and 
stooped  to  pick  it  up. 

"  What  will  you  do  ? "  asked  he,  in  a  con- 
strained voice,  when  they  were  walking  on 
again. 


234  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"For  the  three  months  before  my  interest  is 
again  due,  I  must  find  something  to  support 
myself.  I  can  be  a  common  porter  if  nothing 
better  offers.  No  honest  work  is  degrading. 
Of  course  you  will  not  expect  me  to  do  any- 
thing more  for  you.  I  paid  our  board  last  week, 
and  now  you  have  a  good  salary,  —  plenty  to  sup- 
port yourself,  and  lay  up  something  besides,  if 
you  choose." 

"And  when  you  get  your  interest?"  asked 
Walter. 

"  Then  I  shall  try  to  enter  college.  I  think 
I  can  pass,  I  have  studied  very  hard  this  last 
year;  and  I  do  not  feel  that  I  can  ever  go  back  to 
Mr.  Hewlett." 

"And  you  will  be  a  gentleman  and 
scholar!"  cried  Walter,  in  great  excitement; 
"and  leave  me  a  common  shop-boy.  You 
promised  to  stay  by  me  till  we  could  go  to- 
gether." 

"  So  I  did,"  said  Owen,  slowly ;  "  but  I  thought 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  235 

perhaps  you  would  excuse  me,  when  you  saw  how 
painful  it  was  for  me  to  stay." 

Walter  said  not  a  word. 

"  Of  course  I  shall  keep  my  promise,  if  you 
wish  it.  I  might  wait  another  year,  if  you  will 
promise  to  save  all  you  can.  It  is  just  possible 
we  might  both  be  able  to  begin  next  fall,  and 
struggle  through,  by  teaching  and  working  be- 
tween times." 

"  Oh,  thank  you ;  I  should  like  that  so  much 
better!"  cried  Walter,  eagerly;  for  he  had 
been  racking  his  brains  to  think  how  he  should 
account  plausibly  for  Owen's  being  able  to  go  to 
college,  while  he,  —  the  rich  Walter,  stayed  behind 
as  a  clerk. 

"  Very  well,  then,"  said  Owen,  with  a  sigh ;  "  I 
will  wait." 

The  next  morning,  Owen  began  his  wander- 
ings again.  He  would  not  force  upon  himself 
the  misery  of  another  such  day  as  he  had  just 
passed.  Even  Ms  courage  failed  before  the 
trial  of  repeating  his  humiliating  confession  to 


236  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

stranger  after  stranger,  and  invariably  reading 
surprise  and  distrust  in  every  cold  face.  But  he 
was  as  good  as  his  word;  he  found  some  employ- 
ment, though  he  did  not  say  what,  and  no  one 
pressed  the  subject 

"  It  is  a  good,  honest  business,"  he  said,  with 
something  of  his  old  cheerfulness ;  "  and  I  run  no 
danger  of  being  spoiled,  by  becoming  rich  too 
suddenly." 

So  daily  he  went  to  his  toil,  and  nightly 
came  back  with  a  bronze  face,  and  roughened 
hands.  They  knew  the  work  must  be  hard,  and 
far  from  congenial ;  but  no  one  ever  heard  a  word 
of  complaint. 

"  Owen,"  said  Phemie,  one  day,  half  won  to 
admiration,  half  out  of  patience  with  his  cheer- 
ful, even  temper,  "  there  is  not  the  least  fun  in 
attacking  you.  If  I  fire  a  cross  word  at  you, 
hoping  to  clip  a  little  piece  off  your  provoking 
good-nature,  the  ball  just  slips  off  someway.  It 
seems  as  if  you  were  all  round,  and  hadn't  any 
angles  to  hit" 


A  HEAVY  SEA.  237 

"You  will  be  in  despair  when  you  find  how 
you  have  flattered  me,  Pheinie,"  said  Owen,  laugh- 
ing. "Have  you  never  heard  that  of  all  the 
famous  buildings  of  antiquity,  none  have  been 
left  standing  except  the  round  ones  ?  The  square, 
angled  ones  have  gone  to  ruin  long  ago.  I  shall 
outlive  you  a  thousand  years. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HE  THAT  SAVETH  HIS   LIFE. 

FEW  weeks  slipped  by,  and  Mr. 
Coolidge  seemed  fated  to  be  unfortu- 
nate with  his  clerks.  The  faithful 
Grimes  was  taken  suddenly  ill,  and  Mr.  Coolidge, 
himself,  was  forced  to  supply  his  important  place 
at  the  desk. 

"  Walter,"  said  he,  a  few  evenings  after  this 
arrangement,  "I  wish  you  would  take  this 
package  to  Grimes,  see  him  yourself,  get  the 
answer  to  these  questions  I  have  written  down, 
and  see  if  there  is  any  prospect  of  his  being 
better  soon.  I  hoped  to  have  time  to  go  my- 
self, but  these  accounts  will  keep  me  till  a  late 
hour." 

(238) 


HE  THAT  SAVETH  HIS  LIFE.  239 

The  two  boys  closed  the  store,  and  went  out 
together. 

"  It  is  so  far ! "  grumbled  Walter ;  "  and  it  will 
make  our  ride  so  late." 

"  I'm  very  glad  you  are  honored  with  the  com- 
mission," said  Fanshawe,  significantly. 

"Why?"  asked  Walter,  with  some  uneasi- 
ness. 

Fanshawe  laughed ;  he  had  not  been  an  agree- 
able companion  lately. 

"  I  heard  that  Grimes  had  this  new  kind  of 
spotted  fever,"  said  he;  "terribly  contagious; 
and  sometimes  a  man  only  lives  a  few  hours  after 
he  is  taken." 

Walter  turned  white.  The  idea  of  thus  run- 
ning into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  was  horrible. 

"  I'll  go  back  and  tell  Mr.  Coolidge  I  can't  run 
such  a  risk!  "  said  he,  excitedly. 

"And  a  great  deal  of  good  it  will  do  you," 
said  Fanshawe.  "  I  know  Uncle  Coolidge ; 
he  won't  believe  a  word  of  it,  and  he'll  end  up 
by  flying  in  a  passion,  and  telling  you,  you  can 


240  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

either  go,  or  throw  up  your  place, — just  as  you 
choose." 

"I'll  tell  you,"  said  the  perplexed  Walter,  "I'll 
just  ask  to  see  the  nurse,  and  send  in  the  plagued 
questions.  .Then  you  can  come  around  with  the 
carriage  and  meet  me  there." 

"  Not  I ! "  said  Fanshawe,  "  I'm  not  going  to 
ride  with  a  fever  patient  to-night.  Why,  the 
whole  air  of  that  house  will  be  like  poison.  Good 
night ;  I  can  get  Sprague,  I  guess." 

Walter  was  left  angry  and  irresolute.  As  he 
still  lingered,  looking  after  Fanshawe,  a  quick 
step  came  up  behind  him. 

"What's  happened  to  you,  Walty  ?  Are  you 
moonstruck  ?  " 

It  was  Owen's  voice,  and  Walter  saw  a  way  out 
of  his  troubles. 

"  I'm  just  thinking  what  to  do,"  said  he.  "  Mr. 
Coolidge  has  given  me  a  message  for  Grimes,  and 
it's  so  late,  and  I'm  so  tired." 

"  Let  me  go  for  you,"  said  Owen,  kindly. 

Walter  was  so  sure  he  would  offer. 


HE  THAT  SAVETH  HIS  LIFE.  241 

"  I  know  just  how  tired  you  feel  after  such  close 
work  all  day,"  he  continued,  affectionately. 

Very  uncomfortable  Walter  felt,  playing  his 
mean  part,  but  he  made  no  effort  to  rise  above  it 
So  he  thanked  him,  hastily  explained  the  ques- 
tions, saw  Owen  start  cheerfully  on  his  long  walk, 
and  then  he  turned  to  find  Fanshawe. 

He  was  just  driving  out  of  the  livery  stable ; 
and  "Walter,  explaining  matters  in  a  few  words, 
climbed  up  by  his  side. 

"  I  don't  know  but  I  ought  to  have  told  him 
about  the  fever,"  said  Walter,  a  little  uneasily,  as 
he  finished. 

"No,  my  tender  heart,"  laughed  Fanshawe; 
"  you  oughtn't.  They  say  it  is  only  those  who 
are  afraid  of  a  disease,  who  are  sure  to  take  it. 
You  and  I,  now,  exposed  to  such  dangers,  would 
be  sending  for  our  confessors  before  morning." 
Walter  shuddered.  "  But  Owen's  ignorance  will 
be  the  saving  of  him.  You  did  perfectly  right, 
my  boy/*' 

So  Walter,  quieting  what  little  conscience  he 
1G 


242  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

had  left,  was  soon  joking  as  loudly  as  his  com- 
panion. 

Owen,  in  the  meantime,  had  found  Grimes 
delirious,  and  very  near  his  end.  The  lonely 
old  man  had  no  friends,  and  the  attentions  of  the 
hired  nurse  were  so  scanty  and  cold,  that  Owen 
stayed  till  a  late  hour,  bathing  his  hot  hands  and 
head,  giving  him  cooling  drinks,  —  doing  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  soothe  the  few  remaining 
hours  of  life.  When  at  last  he  sank  into  a  heavy 
sleep  Owen  came  sadly  home. 

As  he  came  up  the  steps,  the  door  seemed  to 
open  of  itself,  and  Honor  stood  there,  her  eyes  full 
of  tears,  and  her  finger  on  her  lips. 

"  Walter  has  been  thrown  from  a  wagon,"  she 
said,  in  broken  words. 

Owen  waited  for  no  more,  but  sprang  up  the 
stairs,  where  his  cousin  lay  pale  and  groaning ; 
a  broken  leg  just  set;  while  Dr.  Morgan  an- 
nounced that  he  also  feared  some  internal  injuries, 
though  he  could  not  yet  judge  how  serious  they 
might  prove. 


HE   THAT  SAVETH  If  IS  LIFE.  243 

The  next  few  weeks  were  full  of  anxiety  for 
the  warm-hearted  household.  The  struggle  was 
more  than  doubtful,  and  it  was  many  days  before 
the  fever  burned  less  fiercely,  and  youth  seemed 
gaining  the  ascendancy.  Even  then,  the  con- 
valescence was  very  slow;  the  injured  leg  knit 
painfully  together,  and  "Walter  was  still  a  close 
prisoner  to  his  bed,  long  after  he  had  hoped  to 
find  himself  well. 

These  weary  days  were  scarcely  less  of  a  trial 
to  Owen  than  to  his  cousin.  The  poor  boy, 
working  far  beyond  his  strength,  that  his  scanty 
earnings  might  meet  the  added  expenses  of  Wal- 
ter's illness, — came  home  at  night,  to  have  the 
ill-humor,  which  Walter  had  painfully  controlled 
during  the  day,  in  presence  of  Honor  and  Phemie, 
poured  on  his  defenceless  head. 

His  lot  almost  seemed  to  him  the  hardest,  at 
times;  and  one  evening,  when  he  came  in  a 
little  earlier  than  usual,  he  stood  a  long  time  in 
the  door,  looking  almost  with  envy  upon  his 
cousin. 


244  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Walter  was  bolstered  up  in  bed,  with,  a  little 
tray  of  delicacies  before  him,  and  Honor  and 
Pheinie  were  flitting  around  him  with  a  thousand 
little  attentions. 

"  There;  you  look  like  Prince  Charming,"  said 
Pheinie,  gayily,  as  she  arranged  one  of  the  dark 
rings  of  hair  on  his  white  forehead. 

"  Yes,  you  were  never  half  so  fascinating  when 
you  were  well,"  laughed  Honor,  holding  up  a 
spoonful  of  quivering,  crimson  jelly. 

"You  are  a  perfect  Sultan,  "Walter,"  said 
Owen,  smothering  a  sigh.  It  seemed  so  de- 
lightful to  the  weary  boy,  to  be  lying  there  so 
idly,  —  waited  upon  so  luxuriously.  "And 
you  have  the  most  charming  slaves  in  the 
world." 

Walter  smiled  pleasantly,  and  made  one  of 
those  courtly  little  speeches,  that  always  filled 
Phemie  with  such  ecstatic  admiration. 

But  the  supper  was  no  sooner  over,  and  the 
laughing  girls  gone,  when  Walter's  face  changed 
wonderfully. 


HE   THAT  SAVETH  HIS  LIFE.  245 

"  No  sunshine  to  be  wasted  on  me,  "Walty,"  said 
Owen. 

"  No  nonsense !  "  cried  Walter,  irritably.  "  Do 
you  suppose  it  is  very  pleasant  for  me  to  lie  here 
day  after  day,  with  nothing  to  think  of,  but  how 
my  doctor's  bills  are  to  be  paid  ?  " 

"How  sorry  I  am  you  have  worried  about 
that !  I  meant  to  have  told  you  I  had  arranged 
everything,  and  you  needn't  give  it  another 
thought.  My  income  will  pay  our  board,  and 
what  I  earn  must  satisfy  the  doctor." 

"My  income!  My  earnings!"  repeated  "Wal- 
ter. "How  grand  and  patronizing  you  are. 
Oh,  how  much  pleasanter  it  is  to  give  than  to 
receive." 

Owen  colored.  "It  is  pleasanter,"  he  said, 
frankly ;  "  but  my  manner  must  have  been  very 
unfortunate,  if  I  made  you  feel  it  so  strongly. 
Forgive  me,  Walty,  I  only  wanted  to  tell  you  that 
half  of  mine  is  yours;  but  I  am  always  so 
awkward." 

There  was  silence  for  a  minute;  then  Owen 


246  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

asked,  "Haven't  you  a  little  coming  from  Mr. 
Coolidge  ?  " 

"  Very  little.  I  had  taken  up  all  my  old  salary, 
and  I  had  only  been  in  my  new  place  a  week  or 
two. 

"  That's  true,"  said  Owen,  slowly. 

"  But  Fve  been  thinking  of  something  I 
might  do,  that  would  pass  away  the  time,  and 
be  earning  money  too,"  said  Walter,  raising 
himself  a  little.  "You  saw  that  Bible  verse, 
Phemie  brought  in  to  show  me,  all  painted  in 
red  and  blue  and  gold  ?  "Well,  they're  all  the 
fashion  now,  and  some  of  them,  Phemie  says,  sell 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  dollars!  What  do  you 
think  of  that  ?  Now,  I  want  you  to  get  me  the 
paints  and  brushes,  and  I'll  begin  making  them 
right  away." 

"  You  shall  have  them  to-morrow,"  said  poor 
Owen,  trying  to  think  how  many  days  he  must 
go  without  his  lunch  (for  he  could  not  come  home 
to  dinner)  to  meet  this  new  expense. 

Walter's  face  was  radiant  again.    "  Then  after  I 


HE   THAT  SAVETH  HIS   LIFE.  247 

'paint  them,  you  must  take  them,  to  the  stores  and 
sell  them  for  me.  I  shall  make  quite  a  little  for- 
tune, I  know." 

Owen  knew  that  Walter  had  no  skill  or  taste 
in  drawing,  but  he  could  not  disturb  these  bright 
anticipations;  and  Walter  gave  free  rein  to  his 
fancy,  and  decided  upon  several  luxuries,  in  which 
he  should  immediately  indulge  himself. 

At  last,  however,  he  talked  himself  out,  and 
called  impatiently  to  the  silent  Owen. 

"  You  seem  to  have  taken  a  vow  of  perpetual 
silence,  but  if  you  are  not  equally  unable  to  stir, 
I  wish  you  would  bring  me  a  clean  handkerchief, 
—  the  top  drawer,  you  know." 

But  Owen,  in  a  fit  of  absence  of  mind,  opened 
the  wrong  one,  and  was  turning  over  the  articles 
in  vain  search,  when  Walter  suddenly  almost 
sprang  out  of  bed. 

"  Not  that  one,  you  idiot,"  he  screamed.  "  Shut 
it  up,  this  minute." 

Owen,  greatly  startled  at  this  uncalled  for 
vehemence,  started  to  his  feet,  holding  an  old 


248  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

stocking  in  his  hand,  from  which  something  fell 
upon  the  floor.  He  picked  it  up,  and,  in  still 
greater  astonishment,  found  it  to  be  a  roll  of  bills, 
marked  on  the  outside,  "  $100." 

"Oh,  ho!"  cried  Owen,  not  noticing  that 
Walter  had  fallen  back  white,  and  speechless, 
"so  you've  been  cheating  me,  sir;  you  had 
money  laid  up  all  the  time;  but  perhaps  you 
meant  to  give  me  a  pleasant  surprise,  some 
day!" 

He  turned  laughingly,  but  his  smile  quickly 
gave  place  to  a  look  of  alarm. 

"  Oh,  what  is  it,  Walty  ?  "  You  are  worse ! " 
and  he  hastily  brought  a  glass  of  water. 

"  It  is  nothing ! "  gasped  Walter,  in  a  minute. 
"  But  that  money,"  he  tried  to  speak  carelessly, 
"put  it  back,  Owen.  It  isn't  mine;  it  belongs 
to  Fanshawe  —  that  is," — his  face  was  burning 
now,  "  that  is,  well,  I'll  tell  you  some  other  time. 
Don't  I  act  like  Little  Picket  when  he's  been 
caught  with  his  fingers  in  the  jelly  ?  "  and  Walter 
laughed  noisily. 


HE   THAT  SAVETH  HIS  LIFE.  249 

He  had  altogether  overdone  the  matter,  aud 
Owen's  keen  eyes  were  searching  him  through  and 
through.  A  terrible  suspicion  seized  him.  He 
took  the  bills  to  the  gas-light;  they  were  all  upon 
the  Phrenix  Bank,  where  that  check  had  been  pre- 
sented ! 

He  turned  back,  his  face  pale  with  excitement, 
forgetting  everything  except  that  at  last,  he  had 
some  clue  to  that  strangest  mystery. 

"  Oh,  Walter,  you  know  something  about  that 
check !  You  do !  You  do !  You  must  speak 
and  clear  me." 

"  You  have  no  right  to  say  so,"  cried  Walter, 
passionately.  "  You  are  cruel ;  you  are  killing 
me.  Let  go  of  my  hands  ; "  for  Owen,  in  his  ex- 
citement, had  caught  them  in  his.  "  You  hurt 
me.  You  have  iron  hands,  and  an  iron  heart." 

Great  tears  rolled  down  Owen's  colorless  face. 
The  suspicion  had  grown  into  certainty,  as  he 
watched  his  struggling  cousin,  who  could  not 
once  lift  his  eyes.  Walter  was  guilty,  how  ter- 
rible !  and  proof  of  his  own  innocence  could  only 


250  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

be  purchased  at  cost  of  his  cousin's  good  name. 
He  had  not  thought  of  that,  at  first ;  and  now, 
bitter  as  was  the  disappointment,  he  resolutely 
put  from  him  the  darling  wish.  He  could  not  ask 
such  a  sacrifice ;  he  would  spare  the  wretched  boy. 

But  he  could  not  restrain  a  look  of  sorrowful 
indignation,  almost  contempt,  as  he  coldly  re- 
leased the  hands,  and  turned  silently  away. 

"  I  wish  you  would  call  Honor  or  Phemie,  — 
some  one  who  cares  for  me,"  said  Walter,  bitterly. 
"  I  am  very  faint." 

Instantly  every  feeling  was  merged  in  pity,  and 
Owen  was  at  his  side.  The  "  iron  hands  "  were 
velvet  as  they  shook  up  his  pillows,  laid  him 
gently  back,  and  tenderly  ministered  to  every 
want. 

And  the  next  day  the  "  iron  heart "  did  not  for- 
get to  bring  the  pretty  paint-box,  the  gold-leaf, 
and  the  brushes. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SLACKENED   SAILS. 

(ALTER  worked  away  diligently  at  his 
new  employment,  and  some  of  his 
efforts  were  sufficiently  successful  to 
bring  him  in  a  small  return ;  not  what  he  had 
hoped,  however,  and  he  daily  reproached  Owen 
for  not  making  better  bargains. 

The  cousins  avoided,  by  mutual  consent,  the 
subject  of  the  last  conversation.  Walter  indeed, 
became  so  easily  agitated  at  anything  in  the 
least  unpleasant,  that  unfortunate  Owen  scarcely 
dared  venture  beyond  the  simplest  everyday  in- 
tercourse. 

Once,  however,  he  forgot  himself,  as  he  took 
up  one  of  the  beautiful  sentences,  upon  which 
Walter  worked,  with   no    more    apparent  con- 
(251) 


252  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

« 

sciousness  of  its  meaning,  than  if  it  had  been 
written  in  Sanscrit. 

"  I  am  the  Way,  and  the  Truth,  and  the  Life," 
read  Owen.  "  How  perfect !  everything  in  Him  ! 
The  way  we  must  go ;  the  truth  we  must  love, 
and  the  life,  Walty,  the  only  one  which  can  ever 
satisfy  us"  — 

"Please  consider  your  sermon  finished  with 
*  firstly  ' !  "  said  Walter,  irritably.  "  One  would 
think  my  life  was  hard  enough  without  your  do- 
ing your  best  to  make  it  more  gloomy !  We  are 
young  yet,  with  no  end  of  pleasure  before  us. 
Why  can't  you  talk  about  that,  once  in  a  while  ? 
though  I  sometimes  think  this  vain  world  has 
lost  all  its  attractions  for  my  most  elevated  cousin. 
Tell  me  now,  is  there  any  one  thing  in  this  life 
that  is  precious  to  you?" 

"Yes,  Walty,"  said  Owen,  fixing  his  earnest 
eyes  upon  his  cousin,  "  there  is  one  thing  very 
precious  in  this  life ! " 

"And  what  is  that?"  said  Walter,  mock- 
ingly- 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  253 

"  Honor ! "  said  the  boy,  starting  to  his  feet,  and 
drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height. 

Walter's  heart  thrilled  with  admiration,  in  spite 
of  himself;  but  he  pretended  to  misunderstand. 
"  Honor! "  repeated  he,  with  a  light  laugh.  "  Of 
course  you  care  for  Honor,  —  any  child  could  see 
that,  —  the  trouble  is,  she  doesn't  care  her  little 
finger  for  you  !  " 

Great  waves  of  vivid  color  swept  over  Owen's 
face. 

"  You  know  very  well  what  I  meant,  Walter," 
said  he,  speaking  slowly,  to  control  his  voice. 
"This  honor,  of  which  I  spoke,  is  my  posses- 
sion now,  in  the  sight  of  God,  whatever  man  may 
think!" 

He  spoke,  with  humility,  but  noble  self-con- 
sciousness. 

Walter  moved  uneasily.  Everything  seemed 
to  lead  to  that  dreadful  subject. 

"  You  seem  to  have  great  confidence  that 
God  is  on  your  side,  Owen,"  said  he.  "  But 
if  people  right  around  you,  in  the  house  —  who 


254  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

see  you  every  day,  cannot  love  you  much, — 
how  can  you  expect  that  God  will,  when  he  is 
so  much  holier,  and  can  see  your  wickedness  so 
much  plainer  ?  " 

Owen's  face  was  full  of  pain  at  this  unex- 
pected thrust;  but  he  raised  his  head  after  a 
minute. 

"I  think  we  have  forgotten  that  He  is  infinitely 
above  us  in  everything.  His  love  must  be  in  pro- 
portion to  his  holiness  ;  the  holier  he  is,  the  more 
reason  I  have  to  hope.  I  do  not  think  I  can 
trust  too  much." 

"Walter  tossed  restlessly  upon  his  pillow, 
thinking  of  the  lost  faith  of  his  childhood,  and 
looking  with  envy  upon  his  happy,  peaceful 
cousin. 

"  Let  me  ask  you  a  question,  Owen,"  said  he,  at 
last,  "  Suppose  —  suppose  some  one  had  done 
wrong,  —  committed  some  crime,  —  not  a  very 
great  one,  you  know,  —  but  something  not  quite 
right,  —  wouldn't  he  be  forgiven,  and  accepted,  if 
he  confessed  it  to  God  alone  ?  " 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  255 

"I  don't  know  whether  I  am  telling  you 
right,"  said  Owen,  hesitating,  "  but  I  should 
think  it  would  depend  upon  whether  the  sin 
concerned  himself  alone.  •  If  his  silence  was 
causing  unhappiness  and  loss  of  reputation  to 
anojher,  he  ought  to  speak,  and  let  the  whole 
world  hear ! " 

Owen  had  spoken  warmly ;  strangely  enough 
forgetting  that  he  was  passing  judgment  upon  his 
cousin. 

Walter's  agitated  face  recalled  him  to  a  sense  of 
what  he  had  done. 

"  Oh,  Walty,  I  didn't  mean  "  - 

"  You  did,  you  did !  "  cried  "Walter,  passion- 
ately. "  You  were  always  hard  and  pitiless. 
You  ought  to  have  lived  in  the  Old  Testament 
times.  You  would  have  enjoyed  stoning  a  man 
to  death,  for  picking  up  sticks  on  the  Sabbath  ; " 
he  paused  for  breath.  "  "Well,  don't  spare  me ; 
call  them  all  in,  Mrs.  Whately,  and  Phemie, 
and  Honor ;  how  you  will  love  to  call  Honor  to 
hear  such  a  story.  Yes,  I  am  ready  to  tell 


256  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

them,  if  you  say  so.  It  isn't  a  bit  selfish  in 
you.  0,  no,  perfectly  right  and  honorable;" 
he  burst  into  tears.  "  Speak,  Owen,  must  I  ? 
must  I?" 

"  Ko,"  said  Owen,  in  a  voice  choked  with  emo- 
tion, as  he  walked  away  to  the  window. 

If  one  of  them  must  be  disgraced,  he  made  up 
his  mind  to  bear  the  burden.  It  would  ruin 
"Walter ;  proud  and  so  fond  of  approbation,  he 
would  never  lift  his  head  again.  He  must  try  to 
save  him ;  and  yet,  would  God  bless  a  life  so 
founded  upon  dishonesty  ? 

The  door  opened,  and  Dr.  Morgan  entering,  in- 
terrupted these  perplexing  thoughts. 

Walter  was  full  of  impatient  questionings. 
"When  should  he  be  well  again  ?  when  should  he 
sit  up,  or  ride  out  ?  He  was  growing  so  weak,  he 
thought,  lying  there  in  bed. 

The  doctor  answered  evasively,  and  looked 
more  anxious  than  usual,  Owen  thought,  and 
when  the  visit  was  over,  he  followed  him  from  the 
room. 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  257 

"  You  do  not  think  he  is  worse,  sir  ?  " 

"  Not  very  much  ;  he  fails  slowly." 

Owen  started,  a  sharp  pain  thrilling  through 
his  heart. 

"  Fails  slowly  ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  do  not 
mean  that  he  will  not  get  well  ?  " 

The  kind  physician  paused  a  minute.  "If 
you  remember,"  said  he,  "  I  have  not  spoken 
encouragingly  from  the  first.  The  iuternal  in- 
juries were  very  severe.  I  did  not  know  what 
youth  might  do  for  him  ;  but  lately  his  symptoms 
are  taking  a  decidedly  unfavorable  turn.  He 
may  linger  till  spring,  —  he  may  live  but  a  few 
weeks, —  I  cannot  tell !" 

Owen  could  not  trust  himself  to  go  back  in  the 
room  till  a  late  hour.  Honor  passed  him  at  the 
door,  with  her  finger  raised. 

"  He  is  sleeping,"  she  said. 

But  she  had  scarcely  turned  away,  when  Wal- 
ter called  Owen  to  his  side. 

"  I  have  had  such  a  dreadful  dream,"  he  said, 

looking  at  his  cousin,  eagerly.    "I   thought  I 
17 


258  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

was  not  going  to  get  well.  Absurd !  wasn't 
it  ?  But  you  don't  know  how  horrible  it  seemed 
to  think  that  next  summer,  even  Mr.  Enfield's 
dog,  and  Phemie's  old  cat  might  be  sitting  in 
the  blessed  sunshine,  and  /  pushed  away  under- 
ground. Pshaw.  I  don't  know  why  I  have 
told  you  all  this  nonsense.  I  have  read  some- 
where that  no  one  need  die  as  long  as  he  has  a 
determined  will  —  as  long  as  he  wills  strongly 
to  live.  Now  I  shall  get  well.  I  have  made 
up  my  mind  to  it.  Don't  allude  to  the  subject 
again." 

So  day  after  day,  the  determined  boy  made 
efforts  far  beyond  his  strength.  He  was  always 
"better,"  he  said,  and  had  ready  some  good 
excuse  for  failing  appetite  or  trembling  hand. 
He  still  painted  industriously  upon  the  illumin- 
ated sentences,  but  poor  Owen  could  no  longer 
find  a  market  for  the  crooked,  irregular  letters. 
Walter,  however,  had  unabated  confidence  in 
their  value ;  for  though  Owen  had  once  reported 
that  the  booksellers  had  refused  them,  —  his 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  259 

kind  heart  could  not  brave  again  the  disappoint- 
ment in  his  cousin's  eager  face.  He  started 
again  with  the  rejected  bundle,  took  them  to  "  a 
new  place,"  he  said;  and  after  that,  the  money 
came  in  steadily,  and  Walter  was  happy. 

But  no  one  seemed  to  notice  that  Owen  went 
to  his  hard  labor  a  little  earlier,  and  stayed  a 
little  later.  Neither  did  any  one  stumble  upon 
the  pile  of  worthless  card-board  slowly  accumu- 
lating in  his  little  closet. 

It  was  strange,  too,  that  no  one  noticed  that 
his  face  was  nearly  as  worn  and  haggard  as  his 
cousin's;  but  the  anxiety  and  sympathy  for 
Walter  had  increased  greatly  of  late,  and  Owen 
never  complained. 

Only  Charley  Morgan,  the  bright,  well- 
dressed,  young  collegian  had  noticed  the  change, 
when  he  came  home  for  his  short  vacation  in  the 
holidays. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  killing  yourself,"  he 
exclaimed  in  his  affectionate,  impulsive  way.  "I 
hardly  knew  you." 


260  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

And  he  actually  shed  tears  at  finding  him, 
working  so  patiently  among  the  rough  porters  on 
the  wharves. 

"Not  that  you  are  lowering  yourself,  dear 
boy/'  said  he.  "You  are  grand  anywhere;  but 
this  is  too  hard  for  you,  and  you  are  fitted  for  so 
much  better  things ; "  and  he  persuaded  Owen, 
much  against  his  will,  to  make  one  more  effort  for 
a  clerkship. 

Together  they  went ;  but  only  to  renew  former 
mortifications.  The  story  seemed  wider  spread 
than  ever,  and  no  one  was  ready  to  run  the  risk 
of  taking  a  boy  under  such  suspicion. 

"It  is  all  over,  you  see,"  said  Owen,  trying 
to  smile.  "  Sometimes  I  think  I  shall  never 
hold  up  my  head  again.  Here,  at  least,  I  am 
ruined.  Perhaps,  after  poor  Walty  is  gone,  I  can 
go  to  some  new,  strange  country,  thousands  of 
miles  away,  and  begin  again.  It's  my  only  chance, 
I  think." 

His  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  Charley,  pressing 
his  hand,  could  not  find  words  to  comfort  him. 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  261 

They  parted  at  the  door,  and  Owen  went  slowly 
up  to  Walter's  room. 

Loving  hands  had  made  it  the  most  attractive 
place  in  the  house.  White  curtains  drooped  at 
the  windows,  a  bright  fire  blazed  and  crackled 
upon  the  hearth,  and  a  vase  of  delicate  hot-house 
flowers  was  upon  the  little  stand  by  the  bed. 
Everything  looked  more  sweet  and  peaceful,  in 
contrast  with  the  wintry  storm  which  was  just 
beginning  to  rage  without. 

Phemie  was  sitting  at  the  bed's  foot  with  some 
pretty,  bright  worsteds,  and  Honor  was  on  the 
other  side,  reading  aloud. 

Owen  started,  as  his  ear  caught  the  familiar 
words ;  she  was  reading  from  the  Bible.  Walter 
had  not  permitted  it  before ;  but  then  Honor 
could  always  do  anything  she  pleased. 

It  might  be,  too,  that  Walter's  strong  will  was 
failing  him  a  little ;  for  he  had  been  very  quiet 
and  thoughtful  all  that  day,  and  now  he  was 
looking  with  such  a  strange,  wistful  expression  at 


262  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

his  almost  transparent  hands,  lying  feebly  upon 
the  white  coverlid. 

Owen  came  and  leaned  upon  the  foot  of  the 
bed,  with  tears  in  his  eyes. 

Tenderly  Honor  read  in  her  sweet,  sympathetic 
voice : 

"  Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled ;  ye  believe 
in  God,  believe  also  in  me." 

"  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions;  if 
it  were  not  so,  I  would  have  told  you,  I  go  to  pre- 
pare a  place  for  you." 

Walter  looked  up  with  an  eager,  inquiring 
glance,  which  Honor  understood. 

"  For  you,  Walty,"  she  said,  tenderly. 

Walter  turned  quickly  to  his  cousin. 

"  For  me,  Owen,"  he  said,  half  asserting,  half 
inquiring. 

It  was  a  terrible  question.  Owen's  breath 
came  thick  and  fast.  He  thought  not  of  him- 
self; but  was  it  possible  for  Walter,  with  this 
burden  of  unconfessed  sin,  to  inherit  these 
heavenly  mansions?  Could  he  ever  forgive 


SLACKENED   SAILS.  263 

'himself  if  he  now  deceived  the  dying  boy  with 
mistaken  kindness  ?  And  yet  how  could  he  say 
it.  His  silence  was  already  becoming  strange; 
Phemie  had  dropped  her  work,  and  Honor  was 
looking  at  him  in  reproachful  surprise.  Great 
drops  stood  upon  his  forehead. 

"For  me,  Owen!"  Walter  asserted  again,  Avith 
nervous  impatience. 

"  No,  Walty,"  said  he,  firmly. 

"  Cruel,"  cried  Honor,  with  an  indignant 
start. 

"Infamous!"  exclaimed  the  more  vehement 
Phemie. 

The  words  fell  like  blows  upon  Owen's  heart, 
but  he  only  looked  at  his  cousin,  bending  over 
him,  while  a  cry  of  grief  and  tenderness  burst 
from  his  lips. 

"  Could  I  let  you  '  hang  eternity  on  a  spider's 
thread'?  Oh,  Walty." 

And  the  unhappy  boy  rushed  from  the  room 
without  venturing  another  look  at  the  cold, 
averted  faces. 


264  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

He  did  not  know  that  Honor  was  looking  after 
him,  perplexed  and  wishful;  that  she  half  re- 
pented of  her  hasty  judgment,  and  longed  to  call 
him  back  to  ask  the  explanation  she  felt  sure  he 
could  make,  if  he  pleased. 

But  Mrs.  Whately  was  much  displeased  when 
she  heard  of  the  matter. 

"  I  did  not  think  you  could  be  so  severe  with 
your  dying  cousin,"  said  she,  as  she  came  upon 
Owen,  sitting  moodily  in  the  dark,  deserted 
sitting-room.  "  What  if  he  is  coming  at  the 
eleventh  hour;  our  Saviour  has  not  forbidden 
such  to  hope ! " 

"Oh,  Mrs.  Whately,  it  isn't  that!  You 
must  not  think  of  me  so  hardly.  It  is  —  it  is  be- 
cause, —  but  I  can't  explain  !  You  must  judge 
me  as  you  will ! " 

He  covered  his  face  with  his  hands. 

"  My  dear,  darling  Owny !"  piped  a  little  voice, 
and  a  small  hand  patted  his  cheek. 

"  What,  are  you  here,  Bobby  ?  I  thought  you 
had  gone  to  bed." 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  265 

"No,  mamma,  I've  been  sitting  by  my  Owen  ; 
but  he  felt  so  bad,  he  didn't  know  it." 

How  long  the  faithful  little  figure  had  been 
watching  by  his  side,  Owen  didn't  know,  but  he 
was  greatly  touched,  as  he  pressed  the  small  hand 
of  his  one  true  friend. 

"  Well,  my  dear  boy,"  said  Mrs.  Whately,  "  I 
will  try  not  to  judge  you  at  all ;  there  is  some- 
thing in  all  this  I  cannot  understand,  but  I  hope 

some  time" —  • 

• 

Honor  came  eagerly  into  the  room. 

"  Walter  wants  to  see  you,  Owen,"  she  said,  "  he 
isn't  in  the  least  angry ;  and  he  wants  you  to  do 
a  favor  for  him.  You  will  be  so  glad  of  the 
chance,  I  know ;  and  we  will  all  forget  everything 
that  has  passed  ! " 

Owen  rose  quickly,  still  holding  Little  Picket's 
hand,  and  followed  her  to  the  room. 

"  I  metmt  to  have  told  you,  Owen,  that  my 
best  paints  are  all  gone,  and  I  think  I  must  have 
a  new  box,  a  nicer  kind  than  the  last,"  said 
Walter.  "  Perhaps  you  had  better  get  the  blue 


206  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

and  carmine  in  cakes  by  themselves,  they  come  of 
better  quality  you  know ;  and  it  worries  me  so  if 
the  colors  don't  go  on  bright  and  smooth.  Hand 
him  my  last  painting,  Honor ;  he  can  get  the 
money  on  that,  and  pay  for  it  all." 

"  But  Walter,"  cried  Little  Picket,  "  didn't  you 
know  how  it  was  snowing,  and  blowing,  and  drift- 
ing ?  and  ic's  so  far  down  to  the  stores !  Why,  it 
almost  knocks  you  over,  just  to  open  the  door! 
It's  a  dreadful  night!" 

"  Then  I  can't  paint  at  all,  to-morrow ! "  said 
Walter,  in  a  tone  of  keen  disappointment. 

"  You  don't  mind  a  little  snow-squall,  do  you  ?  " 
whispered  Honor,  eagerly. 

Owen,  for  answer,  buttoned  up  his  thin  coat. 
How  much  she  thought  of  Walter ! 

"  That's  right !  "  cried  Phemie,  with  a  patroniz- 
ing nod. 

At  the  hall  door  he  met  Little  Picket,  who, 
climbing  in  a  chair,  insisted  upon  winding  his 
own  little  red  tippet  around  his  neck. 

"And  here,  Owen,"  said  he,   "put  on  these 


SLACKENED   SAILS.  2C7 

mittens.  Honor  knit  'em  for  Walter,  but  she 
didn't  give  them  to  him  yet. 

Owen  put  them  gently  aside. 

"  I  would  rather  not,  Bobby." 

And,  kissing  the  child,  he  set  bravely  forth ; 
while  tearful  Little  Picket,  hiding  himself  behind 
the  window  curtains,  flattened  his  nose  against 
the  pane,  to  watch  till  Owen  came  back. 

Owen  found  few  passengers  in  the  street 
The  wind  had  increased  greatly  within  an  hour, 
and  the  sharp  points  of  snow  were  driven  against 
his  face  like  needles.  It  was  the  greatest  storm 
of  the  season ;  and  the  street-cars  of  which  he 
would  gladly  have  availed  himself,  had  been 
withdrawn  from  the  clogged  roads.  Still  he 
kept  on.  There  was  very  little  more  he  could 
do  for  "Walter;  very  short  space  left  to  keep 
that  promise  which,  at  times, — he  now  re- 
proached himself,  —  he  had  felt  weighed  upon 
him  too  heavily.  Another  sacrifice  was  now 
before  him.  He  had  not  a  cent  of  money,  and 
the  trembling  daub  buttoned  within  his  coat, 


268  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

was  worthless.  But  he  had  still  one  article  of 
value,  —  the  watch,  which  had  been  his  father's ; 
a  precious  possession,  but  he  could  not  withhold 
it  now. 

With  blushing  cheeks,  Owen  entered  a  pawn- 
broker's shop,  for  the  first  time ;  made  his  hasty 
bargain,  and  then  quickening  his  steps,  reached 
the  store,  just  as  the  last  windoAV  was  being 
closed. 

The  good-natured  clerk  waited  on  him,  and 
lingered  a  few  minutes,  that  he  might  warm  him- 
self by  the  stove. 

"  The  worst  is  over,"  said  Owen  to  himself,  as 
he  again  passed  into  the  whirling  storm. 

But  his  day  of  fatigue  was  at  last  beginning 
to  tell  upon  him.  He  went  on  bravely  for  a  few 
blocks,  and  then,  suddenly,  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life,  his  great  strength  seemed  to  have  de- 
serted him;  blinded  with  drifting  flukes,  wading 
through  snow  to  his  knees,  he,  at  last,  felt  that 
he  must  sit  down  and  rest.  Up  again  he  strug- 
gled, to  make  a  few  more  onward  steps,  and 


OWEN'S  DBEAM.— PAGE  -2WJ. 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  269 

again  sink  down  exhausted.  This  was  repeated 
several  times,  and,  beginning  to  find  himself 
very  much  benumbed,  he  looked  anxiously  for  a 
store,  where  he  might  go  in  and  warm  himself; 
but  he  had  passed  the  business  part  of  the  city 
now ;  he  was  nearly  to  the  suburbs,  not  so  very 
far  from  home. 

But  he  was  growing  so  very  tired.  He  passed 
the  old  church,  with  its  little  yard,  the  stones 
showing  dim  and  spectral  through  the  storm. 
"  It  must  be  rather  sweet  to  be  lying  there,"  he 
thought,  and  two  little  lines  drifted  pleasantly 
through  his  mind  — 

"  With  their  limbs  at  rest  on  the  quiet  earth's  breast, 
And  their  souls  at  home  with  God  !  " 

Rest !  there  was  nothing  so  sweet,  so  delicious ! 
Again  he  sank  down,  and,  in  a  moment,  caught 
himself  nodding. 

"  This  is  death ! "  thought  he,  with  a  quick 
thrill  at  his  heart,  as  he  remembered  that  sleep 
was  fatal  at  such  a  time. 

"I    must    get  up  in    one  minute,"  he  said, 


270  DRIFTING  AXD  STEERING. 

leaning  his  weary  head  against  a  snow-drift,  in 
most  exquisite  repose;  he  had  never  felt  any- 
thing like  it  before ;  it  was  heavenly !  The 
snow  too,  was  taking  such  strange,  beautiful 
forms;  white  wings  were  sweeping  all  around 
him;  and  in  a  pause  of  the  great  wind-harp, 
he  thought  that  a  voice,  infinitely  tender  and 
loving,  was  calling  him.  He  had  been  hearing 
it  a  long  time,  it  seemed  to  his  troubled  brain, 
but  he  could  not  quite  make  out  the  words. 
Now  they  were  plainer. 

"  Come  ye  blessed !  Come  ye  blessed ! " 
now  louder,  now  softer,  there  could  be  no  mis- 
take. 

Owen  strained  his  ears.  Was  it  for  him  ?  He 
should  like  to  come.  Life  had  not  been  so  very 
dear  to  the  poor  boy,  lately. 

The  white  wings  swept  closer  to  his  face. 

"  Naked,  and  ye  clothed  me :  sick,  and  ye 
visited  me." 

"  When,  Lord  ?  "  sobbed  the  joyful  Owen. 

"  Inasmuch   as  ye    did  it  unto    one    of   the 


SLACKENED  SAILS.  271 

least    of   these,  ye  did  it  unto  me !     Come,  ye 
blessed  ! " 

And  0\ven  forgot  that  Walter  was  waiting 
for  his  paint-box,  and  that  he  ought  to  rise  and 
struggle  on. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
WALTER'S  LOG-BOOK. 

jGAIN  and  again,  through  that  long 
evening,  did  Mrs.  Whately  look  up 
anxiously,  as  the  storm  beat  wildly 
against  the  windows.  Again  and  again  did 
Honor  go  to  the  door,  although  she  was  scarce 
able  to  stand  against  the  wind,  and  could  not  see 
a  foot  beyond  the  steps. 

The  old  clock  in  the  hall  struck  ten, — 
eleven,  —  it  was  almost  midnight,  and  Owen  had 
not  come. 

There  had  not  been  such  a  storm  in  years. 
Little  Picket  came  sobbing  from  his  .hiding- 
place. 

(272) 


WA  L  TER'S  L  o  G-B  o  OK.  273 

"  Don't  you  think  it  was  cruel  to  send  my  Owen 
out  to-night  ?  " 

"I  think  it  was,"  said  she,  greatly  reproaching 
herself.  "  But  lie  didn't  say  a  word  "  — 

"Of  course  he  didn't!"  said  Little  Picket,  in 
great  contempt  "  My  Owen  wouldn't  say  any- 
thing if  you  pinched  him  all  over  with  red-hot 
pincers !  He's  worth  a  dozen  Walters  !  " 

"  I  think  so  too,"  said  Honor,  simply. 

"  You  do ! "  screamed  Little  Picket,  in  delighted 
surprise. 

"  Yes,"  said  Honor,  "  I  think  I  have  liked  him 
the  best  a  great  while,  in  spite  of  all  the  queer 
things  that  have  happened." 

Little  Picket  was  just  bursting  into  a  hearty 
"hurrah,"  when  his  anxieties  swept  back  upon 
him. 

"  How  I  wish  he  would  come !"  he  said. 

Mrs.  Whately  called  down  the  stairs,  —  "  Come, 
Children,  you  must  go  to  bed.  I  am  quite  sure 

Owen  must  have  gone  to  spend  the  night  with 
18 


274  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Charley  Morgan.  He  would  not  try  to  get  home 
in  such  a  storm." 

Just  then  there  was  a  startling  ring  at  the  door. 

"  Here  he  is !  "  cried  Bobby,  joyfully ;  but  he 
was  doomed  to  bitter  disappointment. 

Walter  too,  who  had  been  greatly  excited  all 
the  evening,  heard  the  ring,  and  raised  himself  in 
bed. 

"  What  is  it,  Phemie,  has  he  come  ?  " 

Phemie  rushed  out  of  the  room,  and  through 
the  open  door  came  up,  fearfully  distinct : 

"  Oh,  my  Owen  is  dead !     My  Owen  is  dead !  " 

Walter's  heart  stood  still.  Had  they  brought 
him  in  frozen  to  death  ?  Was  this  then  the  end 
of  all  his  selfishness  and  treachery  ?  Had  the 
brave,  uncomplaining  soul  escaped  from  his  tor- 
mentor at  last  ? 

What  would  he  not  give  to  live  over  the  last 
few  hours,  —  to  hear  once  more  the  voice  of  that 
truest  friend  ?  What  would  he  not  do  for  him  ? 
Oh,  had  repentance  come  too  late  ?  No,  it  could 
not,  should  not  be. 


WALTER'S  LOG-BOOK.  275 

What  an  age  it  seemed  before  any  one  thought 
of  him,  and  his  agony  of  suspense. 

Honor,  at  last,  appeared,  pale,  and  with  swollen 
eyes. 

"  It  is  true,  then,"  said  he,  huskily. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  Honor.  "  Mr.  Enfield 
found  him,  and  had  him  taken  to  Dr.  Morgan's. 
He  left  them  rubbing  him,  and  doing  everything 
in  their  power ;  but  he  wasn't  conscious  yet.  He 
had  this  paint-box  tight  in  one  hand,"  said 
Honor,  bursting  into  fresh  tears,  "  and  Mr.  En- 
field  brought  it." 

"  Put  it  away,"  cried  Walter,  covering  his  eyes. 
"  I  never  want  to  see  it  again." 

Scarcely  an  eye  was  closed  that  night.  To- 
wards morning  Dr.  Morgan  himself  came,  re- 
porting that  Owen  had  struggled  back  to  life, 
but  that  he  was  delirious,  and  far  from  out  of 
danger. 

The  reports  during  the  day  were  scarcely  more 
favorable ;  but  Little  Picket  consoled  himself  in  a 
most  ingenious  manner. 


276  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"  Owen  never  could  do  anything  mean  or  cruel, 
could  he,  Honor  ?  " 

"  Never,"  said  Honor,  emphatically. 

"Then  he  could  never  die  and  leave  me!" 
cried  the  Picket,  triumphantly,  "  I'm  sure  he  will 
live." 

Walter  was  greatly  excited  throughout  the 
whole  day.  The  Doctor's  composing  powders 
seemed  to  have  little  or  no  effect;  hour  after 
hour  he  lay  with  burning  cheeks,  and  staring, 
sleepless  eyes. 

As  evening  drew  on,  he  asked  to  be  bolstered 
up  in  bed. 

"  And  I  would  like  to  have  them  all  come  in  a 
little  while,"  he  said  to  Phemie ;  "  Mrs.  Whately, 
and  Honor,  and  Bobby." 

She  called  them,  and  Mrs.  "Whately  sat  down 
by  his  side,  Phemie  and  Honor  leaned  over  the 
foot  of  the  bed,  and  Little  Picket  looked  askance 
from  his  cricket  before  the  fire. 

"  I  have  something  to  tell  you,"  said  Walter, 


WALTER'S  LOO-BOOK.  277 

with  an  effort ;  "  but  let  me  look  in  your  pleasant 
faces  once  more,  before,"  — 

"  Light  the  gas,  Bobby,"  said  his  mother. 

"No,  DO,"  cried  Walter,  hastily;  "the  fire- 
light is  enough,  more  than  enough !  I  can  see, 
I  only  wanted  to  remember  how  you  looked  before 
you  knew."  —  his  voice  broke. 

"  His  mind  is  wandering,"  whispered  Phemie, 
in  great  alarm. 

But  Walter  began  again,  more  firmly.  "  There 
was  once  a  boy  at  our  school/'  said  he,  "  who 
stood  very  high  for  scholarship ;  he  even  won 
prizes  —  the  first  prizes  ;  but  how  do  you  suppose 
he  got  them  ?  He  copied  a  friend's  translations, 
secretly,  at  night,  —  studied  a  very  little,  and 
managed  to  pass,  by  writing  the  rest  of  his 
lessons  in  short  hand,  upon  wrist-bands,  and  rolls 
of  thin  paper.  His  prize  theme  he  copied  from 
an  old  book.  What  should  you  think  of  such  a 
boy?" 

"Perfectly     dishonorable      and     degraded!" 
responded  the  ever  ready  Phemie.     "  I  should 


278  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

despise  such  a  boy  from  the  'bottom  of  my 
heart!" 

"  Rattle-head,"  muttered  the  wise  Little 
Picket,  who  had  drawn  near,  with  shining  eyes. 
"  What  a  bat  she  is !  " 

"Walter  was  deathly  pale,  as  he  resumed : 

"  This  same  boy  joined  in  a  cowardly  attack 
upon  his  teacher ;  dropped  his  cousin's  handker- 
chief, and  kept  dishonorable  silence  when  that 
innocent  cousin  was  suspected  and  accused." 

"  Oh,  oh,"  cried  Phemie,  a  light  breaking  in 
upon  her,  and  she  burst  into  tears ;  but  the  in- 
credulous, pained  surprise  of  Honor's  sweet  face 
was  harder  to  bear. 

Hurriedly  "Walter  began  again,  distrusting 
himself, — his  heart  was  failing  him.  The  fire 
burned  low,  flickered,  almost  died  away.  In 
the  faint  glow,  he  could  no  longer  see  the  faces 
so  distinctly,  or  his  courage  could  not  have 
lasted. 

Ah,  what  a  sad,  shameful,  incoherent  story 
was  poured  forth.  "With  what  grief  and  aston- 


WAJ  TEH'S  LOG-BOOK.  279 

ishment  was  received  the  true,  pathetic  history 
of  that  never  to  be  forgotten  examination. 
How  they  had  misunderstood  Owen;  how 
Phemie  sobbed  from  the  depths  of  her  really 
good  little  heart,  when  she  learned  the  secret  of 
the  shabby  garments  at  which  she  had  so  often 
mocked,  —  when  she  found  that  they  were  the 
drapery  of  a  hero,  and  not  the  patched  meanness 
of  a  miser. 

And  then  came  the  revelation  of  the  true  de- 
liverer of  Little  Picket  from  the  fire ;  at  which 
Mrs.  Whately  wept,  embracing  him  anew ;  but  the 
child  could  not  restrain  his  ecstacy.  "  I  always 
told  you  so,  Honor,"  he  cried. 

Still  in  the  darkness,  the  trembling  voice 
went  on,  and  they  learned  which  had  given  up 
his  life  to  the  service  of  the  other,  —  which  had 
been  the  generous  benefactor,  and  had  given 
up  his  dearest  dreams,  without  one  complaining 
word. 

It  was  too  much  of  a  shock  at  first;  they 
could  not  realize  it.  This  life  of  dishonesty  and 


280  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

treachery  in  one  they  had  loved  so  much,  — had 
so  long  thought  everything  that  was  noble  and 
generous,  —  how  could  it  be  believed!  Surely, 
Walters  mind  was  wandering! 

Just  then  the  servant  announced  Mr.  Coolidge, 

"  You  cannot  see  him  now,  Walter/'  said 
Mrs.  Whately,  "  You  must  lie  down  and  rest." 

Walter  waved  her  away. 

"  I  must  see  him,  I  have  sent  for  him,"  he  said. 
"  Give  me  my  drops." 

He  swallowed  them  eagerly,  as  Mr.  Coolidge 
entered  the  door,  and  stumbled  to  a  seat. 

Mrs.  Whately  stirred  up  the  fire,  since  Walter 
had  forbidden  the  gas. 

"Mr.  Coolidge,"  he  commenced,  abruptly, 
"  would  you  like  to  know  who  took  that  check  ? 
It  was  Fanshawe  and  I ! " 

Phemie  gave  a  tragic  little  shriek.  Honor 
leaned  her  head  on  her  hands,  sobbing.  Little 
Picket  stood  with  frightened,  round  eyes. 

"  How  can  that  be  ?  "  said  Mr.  Coolidge.  "  You 
could  not  have  opened  that  safe  ?  " 


WALTER'S  LOG-BOOK.  281 

"  But  we  did,"  said  Walter. 

"Without  knowing  the  combination?"  said 
Mr.  Coolidge,  incredulously. 

"  No,  we  noticed  Grimes ;  he  was  getting 
old ;  his  memory  failed  him ;  and  sometimes, 
after  he  had  locked  the  safe,  we  saw  him  slyly, 
put  down  something  on  a  paper,  and  we 
thought  it  might  be  the  figures  he  was  afraid  of 
forgetting.  We  were  all  alone  one  night  after 
the  store  was  shut  up,  and  we  agreed,  half  in 
fun,  to  pick  Grimes'  desk,  and  see  if  we  had 
guessed  right.  So  we  did,  and  we  found  the 
key  of  the  safe  in  a  little  secret  drawer,  and 
upon  two  or  three  different  bits  of  paper,  there 
were  three  minute  figures  —  the  same  figures. 
It  was  such  a  temptation,  we  couldn't  resist 
trying  them ;  and  oh,  they  were  right !  We 
opened  the  safe ;  we  didn't  mean  to  do  anything 
wrong  at  first;  we  only  thought  we  would 
leave  it  open,  and  frighten  old  Grimes  to  death. 
But  there  lay  that  check,  —  the  evil  one  put  it 
in  our  heads,  —  we  took'  it,  and  Fanshawe  got 


282  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

the  money  on  it.  We  divided  it ;  I  spent  fifty 
dollars;  the  rest  is  in  the  drawer.  Get  it, 
Phemie." 

The  boy  lay  back,  struggling  for  breath. 

"  What  will  you  do  with  me  ? "  he  said, 
faintly. 

Mr.  Coolidge  leaned  over  him,  deeply  moved. 
"I  have  no  condemnation  for  you,  Walter," 
said  he ;  "  your  punishment  is  severe  enough." 
And  he  gently  withdrew  from  the  agitated 
circle. 

Minute  after  minute  passed,  and  the  silence  be- 
came terrible  to  Walter. 

"  You,  at  least,  should  have  some  sympathy  for 
me,  Honor,"  he  said,  panting.  "  It  was  for  you  I 
took  that  money." 

"  For  me  ?  "  cried  Honor. 

"  Yes,  to  please  you ;  to  win  you  back.  Owen 
was  always  nobler  than  I,"  he  groaned,  "and 
your  clear  eyes  began  to  see  it.  I  couldn't  bear 
to  be  second,  where  I  had  so  long  been  first.  I 
was  determined  you  should  think  me  most 


WALTER'S  LOG-BOOK.  283 

generous,  at  least,  and  I  took  the  money  to  buy 
you  flowers,  fruit,"  — 

Honor  slowly  took  off  the  little  pearl  ring,  and 
laid  it  upon  the  bed. 

"Walter's  lip  trembled.  "  Let  every  one  go,"  he 
said,  faintly.  "  I  am  very  tired." 

Honor  hesitated;  but  this  deceit  had  been  so 
cruel,  —  this  dishonesty  so  deliberate,  how  could 
she  speak  a  comforting  word  ?  She  thought  of 
the  innocent  Owen,  suffering  so  long  unjustly,  — 
dying  now,  perhaps,  at  Dr.  Morgan's,  —  and  she 
turned  coldly  away. 

Little  Picket  and  Phemie  followed  her,  be- 
wildered, and  awed  into  silence. 

Mrs.  Whately  remained  behind  to  soothe  him ; 
she  could  not  help  being  touched  with  such  utter 
wretchedness. 

"You  did  perfectly  right,  my  dear,"  she 
said,  bathing  his  fevered  lips.  "  They  will  all 
respect  you  for  your  courage,  by  and  by,  when 
they  think  it  over.  You  have  repented  bitterly, 
and  will  lead  a  very  different  life;  who  knows 


284  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

but  we  shall  love  our  new  Walter  better  than  the 
old  one." 

Walter  caught  at  this  straw  of  comfort. 

"  Oh,  I'  shall  be  very  different,"  he  cried.  "  I 
shall  be  brave  and  noble  like  Owen !  And  I  shall 
get  well  now,  —  now  that  horrible  load  is  gone. 
It  was  that  that  was  killing  me ;  I  shall  get  well ! " 
he  said,  excitedly. 

"  Then  you  must  try  to  rest,"  she  said,  pityingly, 
almost  forcing  him  back  upon  the  pillows. 

"  But  promise  me  first,"  said  Walter,  "  that 
some  one  shall  go  and  tell  Owen  that  everything 
is  right.  I  told  it  to  save  his  life.  I  thought  last 
night  that  I  was  a  murderer ! "  the  excited  boy 
shuddered;  "but  now  he  will  live;  he  is  sure  to 
live  when  he  knows  hoAV  beautiful  life  is  again. 
Tell  him  I  opened  my  log-book,  and  read  every 
leaf.  He  will  understand." 

And  a  messenger  was  instantly  despatched. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TURNING   HOMEWARD. 

T  was  the  morning  of  the  third  day, 
and  Charley  Morgan  sat  by   Owen's 
bed,  waiting  till  he  should  wake  from 
a  most  refreshing  sleep. 

Hour  after  hour  passed  on,  bringing  life  and 
color  to  the  wan  face;  and  at  last  the -eyelids 
trembled,  he  faintly  stirred,  and  the  great  eyes 
opened  blue  and  conscious. 

"  You  know  me,  old  fellow ! "  cried  the  de- 
lighted Charley. 

Owen  smiled,  but  looked  around  the  strange 
room  inquiringly. 

Charley  hastily  explained,  and  in  a  moment, 
Owen   had    remembered    everything, — thinking 
(285) 


286  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

wistfully  of  those  sweet  words  that  were  only  a 
dream. 

"  I  verily  believe  you  are  sorry  to  come  back  to 
life/'  said  Charley,  reproachfully. 

"  It  doesn't  look  so  very  attractive,"  said  Owen, 
with  a  faint  smile.  "A  few  weeks  longer  in  the 
galleys,  and  then  to  go  off  forever  to  some  strange, 
foreign  land." 

"  Then  you  still  think  you  must  go  ? "  said 
Charley,  with  a  queer  twinkle  in  his  eye.  "  Per- 
haps you  may  change  your  mind." 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  Owen,  decidedly.  "  It  is  my 
only  course.  I  shall  certainly  go." 

" (  The  lion  shook  his  incredulous  head,  and 
wagged  his  dubious  tail!'"  laughed  Charley. 
"  You  won't  go  !  my  dear,  dear  boy." 

And  throwing  his  arms  around  the  astonished 
Owen,  he  poured  into  his  ears  the  wonderful 
revelations  of  the  last  few  days. 

Owen  would  not  have  been  human,  if  he  had 
not  felt  one  quick  thrill  of  joy,  that  justice  had 
at  last  been  done  him,  that  his  character  once 


TURNING  HOMEWARD.  287 

more  stood  fair  and  spotless  in  the  eyes  of  men. 
But  there  was  a  quick  revulsion  of  remorseful 
sympathy,  as  he  thought  of  his  unhappy 
cousin. 

"  Poor,  poor  Waky,"  he  cried ;  "  what  he 
must  have  suffered.  I  must  go  to  him,  Char- 
ley ! " 

There  was  no  denying  him,  so  great  was  his 
anxiety ;  and  Dr.  Morgan  had  him  carefully  taken 
home  that  very  afternoon. 

He  was  carried  into  the  sitting-room  first,  and 
laid  upon  the  sofa,  while  they  all  crowded  around 
him  with  tears  and  congratulations. 

"  How  blind  we  have  been,"  said  Mrs.  Whately, 
kissing  his  white  forehead.  "We  have  never 
known  you  before." 

"  But  /  have,"  said  the  indignant,  but  ecstatic 
Picket,  clinging,  as  usual,  to  one  hand.  "  He's  a 
bigger  hero  than  there  is  in  any  of  Phemie's 
books,  though  she  couldn't  see  it." 

"  Can  you  ever  forgive  us  ?  "  whispered  Honor. 

Owen,  in  his  genuine  humility,  was  becoming 


288  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

greatly  embarrassed  and  distressed  with  these 
praises,  when  Phemie  made  a  most  fortunate 
diversion.  She  had  been  standing  rather  shyly, 
at  a  distance ;  but  encouraged  by  Owen's  smile, 
she  drew  nearer. 

"  It  is  strange  we  never  noticed  it,  Honor,"  she 
said,  in  one  of  her  characteristic  whispers ;  "  but 
don't  you  think  his  mouth  and  chin  is  very  like 
Napoleon  ?  " 

"  What  a  goose  you  are,  Phemie ! "  cried  Honor, 
and  they  all  joined  in  an  irrepressible  laugh,  after 
which  everybody  felt  better. 

"  Now  I  must  go  up  to  Walty,"  said  Owen. 
And  they  carried  him  to  the  room,  and  laid  him 
upon  the  bed,  which  Walter  had  caused  to  be 
drawn  close  to  his  own. 

Then  every  one  went  away,  and  left  the  cousins 
alone. 

"  How  shall  I  ever  thank  you  enough, 
Walty!"  said  Owen,  after  the  first  burst  of 
feeling. 

"  What    for  ?    for    making    your    whole    life 


TURNING  HOMEWARD.  289 

wretched  thus  far  ?  But  I  am  going  to  live  so 
differently  when  I  get  well.  I  shall  get  well, 
Owen  ?  " 

He  had  always  leaned  upon  his  stronger  cousin, 
and  now  he  asked  it  so  imploringly,  like  a  trem- 
bling child,  waiting  for  a  verdict  against  which 
there  could  be  no  appeal. 

Owen,  for  reply,  orily  seized  the  transparent 
hand,  and  covered  it  with  tears  and  kisses. 

Such  a  long  silence  followed,  that  at  last, 
Owen  hoped  that  his  exhausted  cousin  had 
fallen  asleep ;  but  no,  the  great  dark  eyes  unclosed 
again. 

"Owen,  do  you  think  God  can  forgive  me? 
Whenever  I  think  of  Him  I  am  afraid.  Oh,  so 
afraid ! "  he  smothered  a  half  sob. 

Owen  did  not  seem  to  have  heard  the  question, 
Walter  thought,  for  he  began  talking  of  something 
that  happened  years  ago. 

"  Do  you  remember,  Walty,  when  you  were  a 
little  fellow,  about  five  or  six  years  old,  I  think, 

and  mother  was    going  to  take  us    to    Uncle 
19 


290  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

Knowlson's  to  tea  ?  You  were  dressed  in  your 
very  best,  you  know,  and  left  sitting  on  the  front 
steps  till  we  were  ready  too." 

"Yes,  I  remember,"  sighed  Walter;  "how 
happy  and  innocent  I  was  then." 

"Not  so  very,"  said  Owen,  smiling  a  little. 
"You  ran  away;  you  went  down  to  the  river 
where  you  had  been  forbidden  to  go  alone. 
You  fell  down  the  steep  bank,  tore  your  little 
embroidered  coat,  bruised  and  scratched  your 
face ;  but  that  wasn't  enough ;  you  got  in  a 
little  boat,  —  also  in  direct  disobedience  to 
orders,  —  the  rope  parted,  you  remember,  and 
off  you  floated.  You  thought  it  great  fun  at 
first,  and  drifted  more  than  a  mile  below  the 
village;  then,  as  you  were  leaning  over,  to  see 
the  bottom  of  the  river,  you  said,  —  you  lost 
your  balance,  and  fell  in.  I  don't  remember  who 
saw  you  or  caught  you,  but  you  were  nearly 
drowned,  and  it  was  a  whole  hour  before  you 
spoke  a  word." 

"  Yes,  I  remember,"  8aid  Walter. 


TURNING  HOMEWARD.  291 

"And  your  first  words  were  so  strange,"  said 
Owen,  musingly. 

"  Why  no,  they  weren't ! "  cried  Walter,  in 
some  surprise.  "  Didn't  I  ask  them  to  take  me  to 
mother?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  what  seems  so  queer.  You  had 
disobeyed  her  so ;  your  pretty  little  suit  was  torn 
and  discolored,  and  you,  yourself,  were  bruised 
and  helpless,  you  couldn't  even  walk  alone.  You 
must  have  known  she  would  be  very  angry,  and 
punish  you  terribly !  I  should  think  you  would 
have  wanted  to  run  anywhere  else  ?  " 

"How  strangely  you  talk,  Owen,"  said 
Walter,  a  little  irritably.  "Didn't  I  know 
there  was  no  one  in  the  world  who  would  be  so 
glad  to  see  me?  Don't  you  remember  when 
they  put  me  inside  the  door,  such  a  forlorn  little 
thing!  She  didn't  see  me;  she  was  crying; 
but  I  just  said,  *  Mother ! '  and  Oh,  how  she  caught 
me  up !  and  loved  me,  and  loved  me !  and  was  so 
sorry  for  me ! "  Walter  wept  "  It  was  one  of 
the  blessedest  moments  of  my  life ! " 


292  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"You  are  right,"  said  Owen,  "I  believe  she 
never  loved  you  more  than  when  you  came  to  her 
a  pitiful,  ragged,  disobedient,  but  trusting  little 
child!" 

Walter  looked  up  eagerly,  a  light  breaking  upon 
him. 

"  I  see  what  you  mean,  Owen,  but,"  —  his  face 
clouded  again,  "  God  is  not  like  a  mother." 

"You  are  right  again,"  said  Owen,  brightly. 
"His  love  and  pity  is  infinitely  greater!  A 
mother  may  forget  her  child,  '  Yet  will  not  I  for- 
get thee ! '  *  As  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth, 
so  will  I  comfort  you.'  Try  him,  Walty !  take 
him  at  his  word ;  you  cannot  please  him  better. 
Is  it  not  your  Father  whom  you  have  offended  ? 
Go  to  him  then,  helpless,  disobedient,  utterly 
worthless,  say  just  that  one  word,  'Father!'  and 
see  if  he  will  not  run  to  you,  loving  you,  —  so 
sorry  for  you  !  Has  not  the  Elder  Brother,  who 
knows,  said  so  ?  Oh,  Walty,  trust  him !  do  not 
wait,  when  you  might  be  lying  on  his  breast ! " 

Owen  stopped,  sobbing  with  emotion. 


TURNING  HOMEWARD.  293 

"  Thank  you ! "  said  Walter,  closing  his  eyes 
with  a  pleasant  smile.  "  I  will  think  about  it." 

No  more  was  said  till  late  in  the  evening, 
when,  as  Owen  bent  over  to  bid  him  "good  night," 
Walter  drew  his  head  down,  and  whispered 
simply, 

"  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  Father ! " 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"HONOR  TO  WHOM  HONOR." 

"WEEK  passed  away,   during  which 
Walter,  though  happier,  had    many 
seasons  of  depression.    He  could  not 
bear  to  have  Owen  out  of  his  sight. 

"  How  can  I  have  the  presumption  to  hope 
for  anything  from  Heaven ! "  he  cried  one  day, 
"  I  have  given  God  one  short,  worthless  week  of 
my  life ! " 

"When  the  multitude  had  only  followed  Him 
three  days,  Jesus  could  not  send  them  away 
fasting ;  having  great  compassion,"  said  Owen, 
gently. 

"  You  are  like  one  of  the  angels  of  God  to 
tme,    Owen,"    cried    Walter,    excitably.      "If   I 
(294) 


"HONOR    TO  WHOM  HONOR."  295 

am  ever  so  happy  as  to  meet  our  mother  in  that 
other  world,  I  shall  tell  her  how  you  have  kept 
your  promise,  my  more  than  brother.  The 
drag  will  soon  be  gone ! "  he  added,  trying  to 
smile.  "I  shall  not  keep  you  back  much 
longer.  God  has  so  blessed  you.  He  will  let 
you  stay  and  work  for  Him,  —  live  out  your 
grand  life!  But  I  have  abused  the  gift,  and  it 
is  taken  from  me.  Oh,  Owny,  I  am  very 
grateful  for  the  story  of  the  dying  thief!  I  am 
so  glad  I  may  creep  humbly  after  him;  and  yet, 
and  yet  when  I  think  of  what  you  will  be, — 
of  what  I  might  have  been !  Ah.  Owen,  there 
is  such  a  great  difference  between  the  thief's  cross 
and  Peter's  cross." 

Owen  could  not  speak.  The  winter  twilight 
was  drawing  on  ;  he  dropped  the  curtains,  and 
stirred  the  fire  that  there  might  be  that  soft, 
cheerful  glow  that  "Walter  loved. 

"Do  you  remember,"  said  he,  as  Owen  again 
sat  down  by  the  bed,  "  that  night  when  we 
came  into  the  city  ?  The  great  ocean  lay  before 


296  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

us,  you  said,  and  you  were  afraid  of  the  rocks 
and  sunken  reefs.  How  I  laughed  in  my  self- 
confidence." 

"  Don't  talk  about  it  now,  Walty,"  said  Owen, 
soothingly,  alarmed  at  his  cousin's  quickened 
breathing. 

'•'  Yes,  yes, "  said  Walter,  waving  his  hand. 
"  So  you  steered  safely,  not  being  ashamed  to 
ask  daily  for  help,  and  I  drifted  carelessly  with 
every  wind  and  tide.  Ah!  if  I  had  only  fast- 
ened on  that  rudder,  when  you  told  me,  Owny. 
And  now,  sometimes,"  his  voice  again  took  a 
despairing  tone,  "  you  must  have  patience  with 
me,  Owen,  but  sometimes,  in  spite  of  all  you  tell 
me,  it  seems  as  if  I  had  drifted  too  far  out  in  the 
dreadful  sea.  It  is  too  late  to  steer  now ;  I  shall 
never  reach  the  '  desired  haven.' " 

Owen  took  up  his  little  Bible,  and  knelt  by  the 
firelight. 

"'And  when  even  was  now  come,'"  he  read, 
" '  his  disciples  went  down  unto  the  sea,  and 
entered  into  a  ship,  and  went  over  the  sea  toward 


"HONOR    TO    WHOM  HONOR."  297 

Capernaum.  And  it  was  now  dark,  and  Jesus 
was  not  come  to  them.' " 

"Yes,  dark,"  repeated  Walter,  faintly.  "And 
Jesus  was  not  come  to  them." 

"  But  he  could  come,"  cried  Owen.  "  He 
did  come,  no  matter  how  the  sea  rose  by  reason 
of  the  great  wind  that  blew.  He  could  find 
them  anywhere,  however  far  they  had  drifted. 
'And  he  saith  unto  them,'  he  resumed  his 
reading,  '  It  is  I,  be  not  afraid.  Then  they 
willingly  received  him  into  the  ship  ;  and  imme- 
diately the  ship  was  at  the  land  whither  they 
went." 

"How  beautiful,"  cried  Walter,  closing  his 
eyes.  "  He  can  find  me ; "  and  his  lips  moved 
silently. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door.  "  It  is  Char- 
ley," said  Owen,  doubtfully.  "  You  would  not 
like  to  see  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  let  him  come  in,"  said  Walter,  "  and 
call  Honor  and  Phemie.  I  should  like  to  see 
them  all  a  little  while." 


298  DRIFTING  AND  STEKRIXG. 

Owen  gladly  complied.  Walter  had  seemed 
to  shrink  from  seeing  Honor  or  Phemie,  or  even 
Little  Picket  since  the  night  of  the  confession. 

They  all  came  in. 

"  How  well  you  look  to-night,"  began  the  ever 
voluble  Phemie,  to  conceal  a  little  embarrassment 
.she  felt  in  the  presence  of  her  fallen  idol. 

"Walter  smiled  patiently. 

"  Come  now,"  said  he,  pleasantly,  "  tell  me  all 
the  news.  Tell  me  something  about  Owen.  He 
never  will  speak  of  himself.  Hasn't  Mr.  Coolidge 
seen  him  yet  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Charley,  "hasn't  he  told 
yon  that?  Mr.  Coolidge  has  offered  him 
Grimes'  place,  and  will  hardly  take  no  for  an 
answer." 

"  Not  Grimes'  place ! "  cried  Walter,  "  does  he 
think  he  can  fill  that  ?  " 

"He  seems  to  think  he  can  do  anything," 
laughed  Charley.  "  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he'd 
take  him  in  for  partner  in  a  fortnight." 


"HONOR    TO    WHOM  HONOR."  299 

"  Then  he  has  accepted  the  offer  ?  "  said  Wal- 
ter. 

"  Oh,  no  ;  there  is  something  better  than  that. 
Show  him  Mr.  Hewlett's  letter,  Owen,"  said  Char- 
ley, triumphantly. 

Owen  hesitated ;  how  could  Charley  be  so 
thoughtless  ?  It  seemed  cruel  to  parade  these 
triumphs  before  the  pale  boy  whose  life  was  a 
wreck. 

"Walter  read  his  thoughts.  "  You  think  I  am 
the  same  old  Walter,  Owen,"  said  he,  a  little  re- 
proachfully, "but,  you  must  believe  me,  nothing 
now  gives  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  hear  of 
your  honors.  Give  me  the  letter." 

Owen  could  not  refuse. 

"  Charley  must  read  it  to  me,"  said  Walter, 
vainly  trying  to  steady  his  trembling  hand. 
Owen  made  some  slight  demur,  but  Walter  was 
imperious,  and  Charley  began : 

"  MY  DEAR  BOY  :  —  Among  all  the  congratu- 
lations you  are  now  receiving,  believe  me,  there 
can  be  none  more  sincere  than  those  of  your  old 


300  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

friend  and  teacher.  I  should  have  come  to  you 
to-day,  but  am  a  prisoner  with  rheumatism,  as  I 
have  been,  all  the  winter.  It  has  pained  me  not 
a  little  that  you  have  not  once  visited  me  in  my 
old  age  and  infirmity;  but  yesterday,  I  had  a 
hint  from  Mr.  Coolidge,  as  to  the  cause  of  this 
neglect,  I  fear  that  you  have  been  thinking  me 
instrumental  in  your  unfortunate  dismissal !  I 
regret  very  much  that  Mr.  Coolidge  did  not  tell 
you  that  he  heard  the  story  of  the  handkerchief 
from  some  other  quarter,  and  came  to  me  for  con- 
firmation. I  could  not  deny  that  there  was  a 
mystery  in  the  matter,  but  I  distinctly  stated  that 
I  believed  you ! 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  deeply  I  have  been 
grieved  to  hear  of  your  late  struggles,  but  I  hope 
they  are  all  past  now.  You  must  not  refuse  me 
the  pleasure  of  making  your  path  smoother  from 
this  time. 

I  have  a  proposition  to  make  to  you,  my  dear 
boy,  which  is  very  near  my  heart.  I  have 
thought  of  it  a  long  time,  and  should  have 
told  you  weeks  before,  were  it  not  for  the  foolish 
pique  of  an  old  man,  who  deemed  himself  for- 
gotten. 

I  have  always  been  very  proud  of  you,  Owen, 


"HONOR    TO    WHOM  HONOR."  301 

will  you  give  me  the  great  happiness  of  calling 
you  my  son  ? 

Think  of  it  well  before  making  your  decision. 
The  lonely  old  man  has  accumulated  quite  a  for- 
tune, far  more  than  sufficient  to  supply  his  few 
remaining  wants ;  do  not  refuse  to  let  him  em- 
ploy the  surplus  in  furnishing  armor  for  the 
young  hero  just  entering  the  lists. 

No  ordinary  future  lies  before  you,  I  am  confi- 
dent. Your  talents  are  as  unusual  as  your  noble 
courage  and  high  principle"  — 

Owen  forcibly  took  the  letter  from  Charley's 
hand. 

"  No  more,"  said  he,  with  a  face  crimson  and 
pained. 

Little  Picket  clapped  his  hands.  "  Hurrah ! 
for  my  Owen !  "  piped  his  shrill  voice. 

"Don't,  Bobby,"  said  Owen,  gently;  and  the 
child  was  a  statue. 

"  And  you  will  accept  this,"  said  Walter,  "  you 
will  go  to  college  with  Charley;  you  will  have 
every  advantage." 


302  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

"I  would  rather  help  myself,"  said  Owen,  hesi- 
tating. 

"It  would  break  the  old  gentleman's  heart, 
if  you  should  refuse,"  said  Charley.  "At  any 
rate  it  will  all  be  yours  sooner  or  later,  he  told 
me  so." 

"  It  is  all  as  it  should  %  be,  best  and  truest  of 
friends,"  said  "Walter.  "  Clap  your  hands  Bobby ; 
he  is  indeed  the  noblest,  bravest  fellow  in  all  the 
world.  Try  to  be  like  him." 

"Don't,  Walty!"  pleaded  Owen,  kneeling  by 
his  side. 

"  Let  me  be  noble  enough  to  say  it  once,"  said 
he,  stretching  out  a  feeble  hand,  "Honor  to 
whom  honor." 

He  turned  his  head  a  little,  and  gave  one  long 
wistful  glance  at  the  sweet  face  whose  approbation 
had  been  so  dear  to  him. 

Honor  was  looking  at  Owen,  with  a  proud,  glad 
smile. 

Walter's  brow  contracted  slightly  with  sud- 
den pain ;  a  vivid  color  leaped  to  his  cheek,  and 


"HONOR  ro  WHOM  HONOR."  303 

then  the  passing  emotion  was  conquered ;  the  last 
clinging  hold  upon  life  was  relaxed. 

Slowly  he  turned  back  to  his  cousin,  with  a 
smile  of  wonderful  sM'eetness. 

"  Arid  Honor  to  whom  Honor  !  "  he  said  gently, 
closing  his  eyes  wearily. 

A  silence  fell  upon  them ;  they  had  all  heard 
and  understood.  Did  any  one  know  what  the 
words  had  cost  him  ? 

Walter  was  growing  very  pale,  but  they  did 
not  notice  it  in  the  firelight. 

"  Owen,"  said  he,  faintly. 

His  cousin  bent  almost  to  .his  lips. 

"Then  they  willingly  received  Him,  —  will- 
ingly, —  willingly,"  repeated  the  boy. 

"Yes,"  said  Owen,  " shall  I  finish  the  verse  for 
you?" 

There  was  no  response. 

"  He  has  fallen  asleep  from  exhaustion,"  said 
Honor,  tenderly. 

But  Owen,  bending  nearer,  smitten  with  a  sud- 
den fear,  gave  a  cry  of  alarm  I 


304  DRIFTING  AND  STEERING. 

It  was  indeed  over.  The  storm-tossed  wreck, 
parting  noiselessly  from  them,  had  entered  the 
desired  haven ! 

Willingly  the  great  Pilot  had  been  received, 
and  immediately  the  ship  was  at  the  Land 
whither  it  went. 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  below 


lOwi-ll, '50(2555)470 


THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


PZ7    Peebles  - 

Drifting  and 
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P27 


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